Google Images gets a Pinterest-like redesign focused on discovery

Google Images, the tech giant’s image search engine, is taking on Pinterest with its latest redesign that turns the site into a browsable, dynamic gallery of images from across the web. Google is also adding a way for users to create AI images right in Search, as it celebrates 25 years since the debut of Google Images.

Pinterest has long been known for allowing people to browse and save visual inspiration for everything from fashion to home decor. With this redesign, Google is essentially copying that playbook by turning Google Images into a place for discovery and inspiration, and not just search, which could increase users’ time spent on Google platforms, helping boost its ad revenue.

In addition, Google is likely hoping that when users can’t find the image they’re looking for on Google Images or when they want to visualize something, they’ll stay within its ecosystem to create it rather than turn to third-party services like ChatGPT.

After navigating to the redesigned Google Images, users will see a “For You” gallery of images tailored to their interests and browsing history. Like Pinterest, the gallery is designed for continuous browsing, with Google saying it updates in real time with new images.

As users browse, they can save ideas to their “collections,” which will appear as tabs above the main gallery of photos. For example, users can create collections for things like vacation outfit ideas, travel inspiration, and ways to design a reading nook, which they can come back to later.

The redesign is rolling out over the coming weeks on desktop in the U.S. in English. Users need to be signed into a Google Account to try it out, the tech giant says.

As for generating images directly in Search, Google says the feature is meant for moments when you have a highly specific idea for an image that doesn’t already exist online. Google is bringing image generation directly into AI Overviews on Search and will use its latest Nano Banana model to transform a text prompt into a custom visual.

The feature can also help users reimagine spaces and visualize ideas, such as seeing what a room might look like painted red or what a dorm room with a coastal theme could look like.

Image generation in AI Overviews will start to roll out over the coming weeks in English for all regions that currently support image creation in AI Mode, Google says.

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Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University.

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