Your Voice Is Now A Pro Photo Editing Tool
Getting the perfect look for your photos often feels like a chore, requiring you to fiddle with confusing sliders and settings. But what if you could just tell your phone what you want? With a new feature in Google Photos called conversational editing, you can now edit photos simply by typing a command or speaking your request out loud.
Originally launched as an exclusive tool for the Pixel 10 lineup, this powerful AI-driven feature is now rolling out to more Android phones. It's designed to save you time and remove the technical barriers to creative photo editing.
How Conversational Editing Works
The idea behind this feature is to make photo editing more intuitive. Instead of navigating menus, you can now make a simple request like, "make this photo look better," and Google Photos will analyze the image and apply a clean, share-ready edit. This update is part of a broader effort by Google to enhance its photo services, following the major photo editor overhaul released earlier this year. It's not just a parlor trick; it's a practical way to get great results quickly.
Who Can Use the New Feature
Google is gradually rolling out conversational editing to eligible Android users. To access the feature, you'll need to meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be located in the United States.
- Have your Google Account language set to English (United States).
- Have Face Groups enabled.
- Have location estimates enabled in your settings.
Even if you meet these requirements, the feature may not appear immediately, as it is not yet available in all regions.
What Kind of Edits Are Possible
This new tool allows anyone, regardless of their editing experience, to achieve their desired look. You can make precise adjustments, completely reimagine a scene, or apply broad enhancements. The system, called Ask Photos, can interpret a wide range of instructions.
Here are some examples of what you can ask:
- Specific Edits: "Increase the saturation by 100%" or "Brighten the sky."
- Reimagine the Scene: "Make the ground into a calm pond."
- Broad Enhancements: "Make this photo look better."
Below are a few examples of the feature in action:
Prompt to Ask Photos: "Give the cat a top hat"
Prompt to Ask Photos: "Make the ground dark red"
Prompt to Ask Photos: "Turn the ground into a calm pond"
Managing Your AI Settings in Google Photos
If you're concerned about privacy or want to fine-tune how the AI works, Google provides settings to manage its Gemini-powered features.
To access them, follow these steps in the Google Photos app:
- Tap your profile photo.
- Tap Photo settings.
- Tap Gemini Features in Photos.
In this menu, you can stop Google from accessing your Ask Photos queries by toggling off "Allow us to access your queries." You can also disable individual Gemini features like Ask Photos, powered memories, and title suggestions. Furthermore, you can manage the "Remember List," where you've told Photos about your relationships with people in your photos, such as friends or family.
