The latest and most innovative features are often only available to a select few users, and sometimes you even have to pay to use them. This has been the case for some of Google’s AI features, but it won’t stay that way for much longer.
In an official blog post, Google confirmed that key AI-powered editing tools will soon be available to everyone. Highlights examples include Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait light, but they aren’t the only ones.
These features will be available free of charge to all users of the Google Photos app on Android and iOS starting 15 May, the same day as the Google I/O 2024 developer conference.
It’s not just smartphones, either: Google has confirmed that other devices, including the Pixel Tablet, will have access to them, with no requirement for Google One subscription will no longer be required.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The first of these, Magic Eraser, was unveiled alongside the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones and initially only available on those devices. Later, its availability was expanded to include the Pixel 7 series, before finally being made available to all users with a Google One subscription.
Magic Eraser is a tool that allows you to get rid of unnecessary things from the background; these can be people, objects, or other unwanted elements. All you have to do is select the unwanted element, and then the AI will remove it and recreate the removed piece to match the environment.
Another tool, Photo Unblur, allows you to sharpen blurry photos, while Portrait light improves the lighting in portrait photos so that faces are better illuminated and therefore more visible.
Of course, this is not all, and you can find a full list of features now available to all users on the Google Photos community site. However, certain features introduced with the Pixel 8 series, such as Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser, will remain exclusive to the latest Pixel devices for the time being.
At the same time, Google announced that it will make the Magic Editor feature available to users of the Google Photos app at no extra charge, but with some limitations.
The solution is an extension of Magic Eraser; not only does it allow you to remove objects from photos, but it also allows you to move elements in photos to different locations, as well as to change the appearance of individual sections.
Currently, Magic Editor is only available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. However, owners of all Pixel phones will be able to use it without restrictions, also starting on 15 May 2024.
In addition, the feature will be made available to all users of the Google Photos app, but they will only get the option to save 10 edits per month. The limit can be lifted by purchasing a premium Google One plan (2TB or higher package).
All of the other features will be available for to everyone, but only with a phone that meets the minimum requirements. If you want to be sure that you will be able to use AI features from Google, you can buy one of the best Android phones or the best iPhones, all of which are compatible.
However, by opting for any of the best Pixel phones, such as the Pixel 8 or even the mid-range Pixel 7a, you can be sure to get the best of everything Google has to offer.
