Google Photos: A Year of Redesign and AI Integration

Simplified Navigation and Enhanced Features

Google Photos has undergone significant changes throughout the past year, culminating in a cleaner, more modern interface. Key updates include a simplified bottom bar, decluttered Photos tab, and a redesigned Collections tab, which replaces the former Library.

Photos Tab: Reduced Clutter

The Photos tab now offers more control over content visibility. Users can choose to see only backed-up content or hide items like screenshots and GIFs. A new settings page allows for layout customization (Comfortable, Day, or Month).

Collections Tab: Streamlined Organization

The Collections tab replaces the Library, grouping content into categories like People & pets, Albums, and Moments. While this change adds an extra tap for some actions, it aims to provide a more organized browsing experience. The Memories feed is now integrated into Collections as Moments. For related updates on other apps, see Gmail for Android updates.

Search Tab: Focus on Text and AI

The Search tab is now a simple list, emphasizing text-based searches. The Gemini-powered “Ask Photos” feature, currently in testing, offers conversational image search. Users can quickly access classic search with a double-tap on the "Ask" button. Check out One UI 7's AI features for a comparison.

Other Updates

The top bar now includes a bell icon for the Updates feed, providing notifications for shared albums and other activities. These changes aim to modernize and streamline the Google Photos experience. For more on AI integration in other platforms, see Nintendo Switch 2's AI-enhanced graphics.