Google Photos effectively condenses the annual experience into a captivating recap using the Gemini feature.
Google Photos effectively condenses the annual experience into a captivating recap using the Gemini feature.
If you've been on social media lately, you're aware that it's the season for annual summaries. Both Spotify and Apple Music have released their versions of recaps for your music listening, and now it's Google's turn with Google Photos. People seem to be enjoying it so far. The feature showcases the most significant moments of the year as Google's algorithms interpret them. The Your Recap feature, as appropriately named, comes in two versions: one with Gemini and one without.
The first version is the standard recap. It provides insights based on visual patterns in your photos, such as who you took the most photos of, using the facial recognition data you agreed to share through Google Photos. There's also a feature that reveals your color palette for the year. I've only had access to this one so far. If you're curious, the primary colors in my photos are blue, green, and red. I'm surprised it's as colorful as it turned out to be.
There's an AI-powered feature that becomes available if you grant Gemini the necessary permissions. If you're based in the U.S., you can opt into receiving a version of your recap with personalized captions. This could be intriguing, especially if the captions are anything like the personalized AI podcast that Spotify released in partnership with Google's NotebookLM earlier this week. So far, it appears that the cringe factor is minimal. Users on Threads and BlueSky seem to appreciate what Gemini has brought to the table.
Google hasn't served me my Gemini-led recap of the year yet. I opted into the feature this morning after the news broke. I'm curious to see if the AI will pick up on my summer trip to see my favorite Dutch artist and what it will say about the time I spent with my daughter. I was hoping to share my thoughts on it by now, but algorithms often work at their own pace. Sometimes, you just can't rush these things.
If you're curious to see what Gemini has to offer, you can opt-in by tapping on your Google profile photo at the top of the Google Photos app, then tapping on Photos settings. Under Preferences, tap on Gemini features in Photos, then toggle on Gemini-powered memories. The recap is now available and will remain in the app carousel until January.
In the future, Google might use more advanced technology, like AI, to enhance its photo recap feature, providing personalized captions as seen in partnership with Spotify's AI podcast. With the upcoming Gemini-led recap, I'm excited to see if it can identify my summer trip and my time with my daughter, demonstrating the potential of tech in personalizing our digital experiences.