Google Photos now lets you switch between AI and classic search
Google Photos just dropped a new toggle that lets you flip between its AI-powered Ask Photos search and the old-school classic search.
This update comes after lots of users complained about slow searches and missing pics with the AI feature, which first launched in late 2024.
You can now easily swap search modes
Now, instead of digging through settings to turn off Gemini AI, you can swap search modes with a single tap right from the main search bar.
Shimrit Ben-Yair, who leads Google Photos, said they made this change because "you want more control over the type of results you see," and honestly, it's way more convenient.
What's the difference between the 2?
Classic search is all about speed — just type something like "beach 2022" and get instant results.
If you're feeling fancy or need something specific (like "Show me the photos of me in a red shirt"), Ask Photos uses Gemini 3 AI to handle those complex requests.
Now it's your call which one to use!