Google Hits Pause Button On Ask Photos AI

Google Taps the Brakes on Ask Photos AI Rollout

On June 3, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) quietly paused the rollout of its 'Ask Photos' AI search feature. This feature had been gradually expanding to users since last fall. Jamie Aspinall, a product manager for Google Photos, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the feature isn't currently meeting performance expectations. Specifically, issues with latency and user experience prompted the decision. The rollout has been paused for a very small number of users while Google's team works on these improvements. An updated version, which aims to bring back the speed and recall of the original search capabilities, is anticipated to be released in approximately two weeks.

Understanding Ask Photos and the Reasons for Delay

The 'Ask Photos' feature was a highlight at Google's annual I/O developer conference in May 2024. It's powered by a specialized version of Google's Gemini AI models, developed exclusively for this function. The feature allows users to search their Google Photos libraries using natural language prompts. For example, a user could ask for "a sample of one great photo from each visit to a National Park." Google has emphasized that Gemini's multimodal capabilities are designed to understand the precise content of each photo, enabling more intuitive and powerful searches.

The primary reasons cited for the pause are latency – the speed at which the feature responds – and overall user experience. Google aims to ensure that new AI features are not only powerful but also seamless and efficient for users.

A Familiar Pattern Googles Careful AI Adjustments

This isn't the first time Google has paused an AI-powered product to address issues. In May 2024, shortly after introducing 'AI Overview' in Google Search, the company had to temporarily halt aspects of the feature. This was due to widespread reports of nonsensical and inaccurate answers, such as incorrectly stating Barack Obama was the first Muslim president or suggesting users add glue to pizza. These instances quickly went viral, highlighting the challenges of deploying generative AI at scale.

Similarly, in February 2024, Google paused its Gemini image-generation tool soon after launch. This occurred after users reported historical inaccuracies and biases in the AI-generated images, such as depicting US Founding Fathers as people of color. These proactive pauses demonstrate Google's commitment to refining its AI technologies, even if it means temporary setbacks in rollout schedules.

Alphabets Broader AI Ambitions

Alphabet Inc. the parent company of Google, offers a wide array of products and platforms globally, including in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through its Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments, with AI being a critical component across these divisions.

Further Reading and AI Insights

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For broader market perspectives, you can also explore content such as 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure

None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.