Google has been actively incorporating AI features into its apps and services, with significant developments occurring in October of last year. One notable feature introduced was “Ask Photos” in Google Photos, designed to enhance user interaction by allowing queries in natural language.

However, the company has recently paused the rollout of this feature due to several critical concerns. The decision to halt “Ask Photos” was announced by project manager Jamie Aspinall on X, following feedback from users.

Aspinall acknowledged that the feature was not meeting expectations regarding latency, quality, and user experience. He indicated that the rollout had only reached a limited audience as the team works on addressing these issues.

In about two weeks, Google plans to release an “improved version” that aims to better match the speed and recall of traditional search methods. In addition to pausing “Ask Photos,” Google has also revealed enhancements in keyword search functionality within Photos.

These improvements allow users to search for exact matches within filenames, camera models, and captions by using quotes, while still permitting broader searches that include visual matches without quotes. The “Ask Photos” feature was initially announced during last year’s I/O event, where Google emphasized its capability to understand natural questions through the power of Gemini.

Unfortunately, the feature faced numerous complaints about its performance, prompting the current pause in its rollout. This pause is not an isolated incident; Google has previously halted other AI features, including “AI Overviews,” shortly after launch.

This decision was also driven by user feedback, citing issues with nonsensical and inaccurate responses. As Google navigates these challenges, it remains focused on improving its AI offerings.