Google to add toggle for AI-powered search in Photos following user criticism
Google is officially introducing a more prominent way for users to bypass its AI-powered search features in Google Photos. After months of pushing the Gemini-powered “Ask Photos” experience, the company is responding to significant user feedback regarding the tool’s speed and accuracy. Shimrit Ben-Yair, Vice President and General Manager of Google Photos, confirmed on March 9, 2026, that a new toggle will allow users to instantly switch back to the “Fast Classic Search” mode directly from the search interface.
The struggle with “Ask Photos”
The “Ask Photos” feature was designed to revolutionize how people find memories by allowing for complex, natural-language queries like “show me the day we brought our puppy home.” However, many users found the experience frustratingly slow. In many cases, the AI would take several seconds to “reason” through a library, only to provide less accurate results than a simple keyword search.
While Google initially provided a way to disable these Gemini features, the option was buried deep within three layers of the settings menu. The new update aims to put the “user in the driver’s seat” by making the choice between AI intelligence and traditional speed much more accessible.
Introducing the “Fast Classic Search” toggle
The upcoming update adds a dedicated switch at the top of the search results screen. Here is how the new system will function:
- Fast Classic Search: This mode uses traditional keyword-based indexing. It is designed for near-instant results when searching for basic terms like “beach 2022,” “cat,” or “receipts.”
- Intelligent Ask Photos: This mode remains the default for complex, context-heavy questions. It can interpret nuance that keyword searches might miss, such as identifying specific people in specific scenarios.
- Seamless Switching: If the AI results aren’t hitting the mark, users can simply hit the toggle to refresh the page with classic search results without re-typing their query.
Balancing innovation with user satisfaction
Google’s decision to offer a visible “escape hatch” from its AI features is a notable shift in strategy. During a GDC talk and on social media, Ben-Yair acknowledged that while AI feedback has improved recently, “speed and utility” remain the top priorities for most users. The team has also been working “under the hood” to improve the quality of popular search terms like “turtles” or “purple dress” to ensure the AI becomes more reliable over time.
For now, the presence of both systems working side-by-side serves as a reminder that even the most advanced AI can’t always beat the efficiency of traditional algorithms. The server-side update is currently rolling out to Android and iOS users worldwide.
 Origin: Arstechnica
