Google Makes Big Changes to Photos App Ahead of Gemini AI Integration
Google is reorganizing the “Library” on the Google Photos app into “Collections” as it prepares to launch its Gemini AI-powered “Ask Photos” function.
Users of Google Photos are going to see some big changes coming to their home screens. Google is rolling out a new update to their photo app that replaces the traditional Library with a new page called “Collections.” According to Google, Collections is designed to make “finding content easier than ever.”
In a blog post on the Google Photos support message boards this week, Google describes the new organizational method as a way to browse all of a user’s photos in one place, including photos shared by another user, and photos automatically organized into various albums.
The new tab is keeping the bookshelf icon the previous Library page used. Once navigated to however, Collections uses a new layout with various thumbnail shortcuts. For example, it can display photos based on individual faces, specific locations, types of content, and more. Users can still browse their locally-stored albums, but the content will be intermixed with Google Photo’s suggestions and intelligently-grouped content.
Additionally, the search bar at the top has been removed in favor of additional shortcuts, such as favorites, selfies, and screenshots.
The Verge‘s coverage suggests that this new layout is perhaps in preparation ofGoogle’s Ask Photos feature coming to the app, which is powered by the company’s Gemini AI software. In a press release earlier this year when it announced the feature, Google pointed to users’ growing photo galleries as a need for better organizational tools.
By grouping photos in Collections by various content elements rather than user-created albums, it seems Google hopes Ask Photos will be the preferred method for searching for and calling up past photos. This may prove frustrating for users who have spent time developing their own specific organizational structures for photos are those who are used to traditional methods of navigating the app.
Gemini has had a less-than-stellar roll out over the past year, which has already been integrated into the traditional Google search engine. As PetaPixel has previously reported, users have reported numerous examples of incorrect responses. For example, in a live demo at a conference earlier this year, The Verge noted Gemini recommended opening the back door of a film camera and “gently removing the film” as a method to fix a jammed film advance lever (thus, ruining the entire roll of film).
As Google is still rolling out the Collections update to Google Photos, its yet to be seen just how customizable — or consistent — the user experience is going to be. The new update may take a few weeks to arrive to everyone.
Image credits: Google
