Gemini worsens Google Photos search, Google forced to intervene

The introduction of artificial intelligence into everyday services does not always yield the expected results. Ask Photos, the advanced search feature integrated in Google Photos and based on the Gemini technology.

Originally announced on May 14, 2024 and made available in early access in the United States in September of the same year, this feature, still labeled as experimental, continues to show serious structural gaps.

The initial idea was to offer contextual and natural search: instead of typing single keywords, users would be able to use complex phrases, asking the system to show, for example, the images from the last vacation in Europe. In practice, however, the service struggles to meet its promises and the patience of many users is now at the limit.

Google Photos: search worsens with Gemini, the company intervenes

The main online discussion channels, including the dedicated Reddit sections, quickly filled with negative reports. An increasing number of customers openly wonder whether Gemini has ruined the user experience of the photo gallery.

One of the most widespread criticisms concerns the text search inside images. If previously it was enough to enter a word to immediately identify all shots containing it, the current AI-based system often returns no results or provides completely irrelevant files relative to the requests.

Beyond the lack of precision, a widespread problem emerges related to the overall performance of the app. Many testimonials describe software that has become extremely slow in every operation, from initial startup to scrolling through older files, up to the editing features.

Slowdowns do not spare even high-end mobile devices, such as the iPhone 15, on which the same app used to run flawlessly before the recent updates.

For many longtime users, the only motivation not to migrate to other platforms lies in the lack of competitiveness of the search systems developed by rival companies, while deeply regretting the efficiency and stability of Mountain View’s old search engine.

Google’s admission and the return to classic search

Technical difficulties have accompanied Ask Photos since the early days of release, requiring months of additional work before attempting to overcome the early access phase.

The same Google leadership could not ignore the situation. The Project Manager Jamie Aspinall publicly acknowledged the service’s shortcomings, admitting that the product has not yet reached the necessary standards in terms of latency, overall quality and the fluidity of the user interface.

Facing a compromised user experience, Google has found itself in a position to intervene urgently, developing a workaround solution to curb the discontent.

The company has thus released an update that adds a command to disable Gemini and restore the traditional search engine. To deactivate the AI, simply access the app settings, navigate to the Gemini preferences section and turn off the dedicated option.