Google Photos expands its AI toolkit with powerful new editing and search features
Google Photos is rolling out a fresh suite of AI-powered features designed to simplify editing, boost discovery, and help users get more from their photo libraries. The updates include advanced object and person editing, an AI-powered Ask button for instant guidance, new AI templates to create compelling photos, and a broader global expansion of AI-powered search to more than 100 countries. This set of tools signals Google’s ongoing push to fuse artificial intelligence with everyday photo management, making it easier for users to craft, organize, and understand their memories.
Edit objects and people in images with AI precision
One of the standout updates is a more capable editing feature that lets users modify objects and people within photos. This capability, built on on-device AI plus Google’s cloud-driven enhancements, enables you to adjust elements such as lighting, color, or even remove unwanted objects, all while preserving natural textures and shadows. The goal is to offer more control without requiring advanced editing skills or separate software. Users can expect better edge detection, more seamless blending, and smarter object-aware corrections that feel like a professional touch applied with a few taps.
What this means for casual users
For everyday users, the new editing tools reduce the need to export photos to third-party apps. You can fine-tune portraits, landscapes, and events directly in Google Photos, making it easier to prepare photos for sharing, printing, or social media. The AI-driven suggestions adapt to your photo style over time, offering improvements that align with your preferences rather than generic edits.
Ask button: AI-powered answers for photo questions and edits
The newly introduced Ask button brings a conversational AI experience to Google Photos. Users can pose questions like “How can I improve this photo?” or request specific edits such as “Make the sky bluer and soften the foreground.” The AI responds with concrete steps or performs the edits automatically, depending on user permission and the nature of the request. This feature lowers the barrier to getting professional-looking results and provides a quick learning loop for those exploring creative editing techniques.
AI templates to create new photos from existing memories
AI templates offer a library of predefined styles and layouts that transform existing images into new compositions. Whether you’re producing a clean collage, a cinematic series, or a themed travel album, templates guide you through a creative workflow. The templates leverage AI to detect composition, color harmony, and subject emphasis, helping you generate polished results without needing design software or advanced photo-editing know-how.
Global expansion: AI-powered search now in over 100 countries
In addition to enhanced editing, Google Photos is expanding its AI-powered search capabilities to more than 100 countries. This expansion means users can more reliably locate photos based on objects, scenes, people, and even subtle attributes like colors or contexts. The improvement in search accuracy and speed supports users who organize large libraries, travel photographers, and families who want quick access to moments across devices and platforms.
What developers and users should expect next
Google’s AI features in Photos reflect a broader trend of embedding intelligence into everyday apps. For developers, the emphasis on on-device processing, privacy, and smart cloud-assisted edits suggests future tools that balance performance with user control. For users, the ongoing updates likely signal more personalization, faster workflows, and deeper integration with other Google services, such as Maps, Drive, or Workspace tools.
How to get started
To take advantage of the new features, ensure your Google Photos app is up to date. Look for prompts about object and people editing, try the Ask button in the help or editor interface, and explore the AI templates gallery within the editor. If you travel or manage large libraries, the expanded AI search should start returning more relevant results as your collection grows.
As Google continues to invest in AI-assisted photo management, users can expect more intelligent editing options, streamlined search, and creative templates that make every memory easier to curate and share.
