Google Photos AI search feature Ask Photos is back and much quicker

Google has restarted the rollout of its AI-powered

Ask Photos feature

after pausing it earlier this month due to performance issues. The search tool, which lets users find images using

natural language queries

, now combines traditional search with AI processing to deliver faster results.The company temporarily halted

Ask Photos

deployment in early June when users complained about slow response times and interface problems. Google Photos Product Manager Jamie Aspinall admitted the feature wasn't meeting expectations "in terms of latency, quality and UX."

Smart hybrid approach tackles speed concerns

The revamped Ask Photos now shows immediate results from Google's classic search while

Gemini AI models

work behind the scenes on more complex queries. When you search for something simple like "dogs" or "beach," you'll see a grid of relevant photos right away. Meanwhile, the AI continues processing to provide more nuanced results, which appear once ready.

This hybrid approach addresses one of users' biggest gripes with the original version, waiting around while the AI "thinks" about your request. The feature can handle both straightforward searches and complex questions like "suggest photos that'd make great phone backgrounds" or "what did I eat on my trip to Barcelona?"

Gradual expansion continues across the US

Ask Photos is now rolling out to more eligible Google Photos users nationwide, though Google appears to be taking a cautious approach with the expanded release. To access the feature, users must be at least 18 years old, located in the US, have their Google Account language set to English, and enable the Face Groups feature that identifies people and pets in photos.First announced at Google I/O 2024, Ask Photos represents Google's vision for making photo libraries more searchable and useful through conversational AI. The feature can uncover information users might not realize their photos contain, like license plate numbers or specific restaurant visits from past birthdays.