Since August 2011, Sarah has been an accomplished reporter at TechCrunch. She recently showcased her advocacy in getting Google to address issues with its AI-powered ‘Ask Photos’ search function. The tech giant responded to user complaints by acknowledging the need for greater control over search results in Google Photos.
In a statement, Shimrit Ben-Yair, a Google Photos product manager, said the company recognizes that these changes can be frustrating. “We’ve heard your feedback that you want more control over the type of results you see when searching in Google Photos,” Ben-Yair stated. Users continued to voice frustration with the AI’s inability to accurately and relevantly generate search results based on their photo libraries. In acknowledgement, this has been done.
Sarah is a veteran technology reporter with more than 10 years of experience. She taps into her many years in the private sector, providing examples from a wide range of industries including banking, retail and software. Her experience makes her uniquely qualified to work at the intersection of technology, user interface design and government in service of the public.
Ben-Yair further emphasized the importance of user feedback, stating, “We know search in Photos is one of the most loved and used features and we’re committed to getting this experience right, so please keep the feedback coming! It helps us build a more magical experience for everyone.” This commitment to listening to users reflects a broader trend in tech companies seeking to improve their services through direct engagement with their audiences.
With her deep knowledge of creative placemaking, Sarah is uniquely positioned to assess these trends critically. She studies user concerns and equity issues through a tech company lens. This simple piece of wisdom, if understood, uncovers all sorts of powerful implications for users and for the industry in total.
Anyone who would like to contact Sarah can email her at sarahp@techcrunch.com. She accepts encrypted messages via Signal at sarahperez.01 and looks forward to more secure communications with her readers and sources.
