Google Photos Expands Conversational Editing to Eligible Android Devices
Key Points
- Conversational editing moves from Pixel‑only to eligible Android phones.
- Eligibility: 18+, U.S. location, English (US) language, Face Groups on, location estimates enabled.
- Users can type or speak natural‑language commands for precise or creative edits.
- Examples include saturation boosts, sky brightening, and scene reimagining.
- In‑app settings let users toggle Gemini features and control data sharing.
- Feature rollout is still limited to certain regions despite eligibility.
Google Photos' conversational editing feature, first limited to the Pixel 10 lineup, is now being rolled out to qualifying Android phones. Users who are 18 or older, reside in the United States, have English (US) language settings, and have Face Groups and location estimates enabled can access the AI‑driven editing tool. The feature lets users type or speak natural‑language commands to adjust photos, from precise tweaks like increasing saturation to imaginative transformations such as turning a landscape into a pond. Settings in the app allow users to manage Gemini‑powered features and control data sharing.
Feature Overview
Google Photos introduced a conversational editing capability that leverages its Gemini AI platform. Initially bundled with the Pixel 10 series, the tool lets users interact with their photos through typed or spoken natural‑language prompts. By asking the AI to perform specific edits, users can achieve results that would otherwise require manual adjustments in traditional editors.
Eligibility Requirements
To access the feature, Google has defined a set of eligibility criteria. Users must be at least 18 years old, located in the United States, and have their Google Account language set to English (United States). Additionally, the Face Groups feature must be turned on, and location estimates need to be enabled. Even when all conditions are met, the feature may not appear immediately, as rollout is still limited to certain regions.
Capabilities and Use Cases
The conversational editor supports a range of commands. Simple, precise instructions such as "Increase the saturation by 100%" or "Brighten the sky" are recognized, as are broader requests like "Make this photo look better." The AI can also reimagine scenes, for example, turning a ground surface into a calm pond or adding a top hat to a cat in the image. These examples illustrate the tool’s ability to handle both minor adjustments and creative transformations.
User Controls and Settings
Google provides users with control over Gemini‑powered features within the Photos app. By tapping the profile photo, selecting Photo settings, and then Gemini Features in Photos, users can toggle the overall Gemini integration or disable individual components such as Ask Photos, Gemini‑powered memories, or the "Help me title" function. An option labeled "Allow us to access your queries" lets users decide whether their prompts are stored for improvement of the service. The Remember List feature also lets users manage personal identifiers the AI may have learned, such as relationships between people in photos.
Rollout Status and Outlook
While the feature is no longer exclusive to Pixel devices, its availability remains contingent on the eligibility checks and regional rollout schedule. Google has indicated that the feature is not yet available in all regions, suggesting a phased expansion. The broader release aims to make AI‑driven photo editing accessible to a larger audience of Android users, potentially reducing the need for complex manual editing tools.