Google Photos Marks 10 Years with AI-Powered Editing and Enhanced Sharing Features.
Google Photos celebrates its tenth anniversary with a major update, introducing an AI-driven photo editor and enhanced album-sharing features. Announced around May 28, 2025, these updates aim to make editing more efficient and sharing more seamless for its 1.5 billion monthly users.
The redesigned editor streamlines all editing tools into a single interface and introduces AI-powered suggestions. A new “AI Enhance” feature automatically generates three optimized versions of a photo, applying refinements such as sharpening and object removal, allowing users to select their preferred edit with a single tap.
Additionally, Google is expanding access to AI editing tools previously exclusive to its Pixel 9’s Magic Editor. Features like “Auto Frame,” which intelligently suggests crops and can generate missing portions of an image, and “Reimagine,” which enables users to modify elements—such as adding seasonal changes—will be available on more Android devices starting in June, with iOS support following later. To maintain transparency, Google has begun watermarking images that have undergone significant AI-driven modifications.
Album sharing also sees improvements with the introduction of QR code-based sharing. Users can generate a QR code for an album, making it easy for others to scan and access the collection or contribute photos. This functionality is beginning to roll out now.
In addition to these new features, Google highlighted existing AI-powered tools such as automated “Best of Month” and “Year-End Recap” memories, personal video montage creation with music, and automatic updates to shared albums when new photos of specific people or pets are added. Users can further customize their experience by organizing their photo grid, stacking similar images, hiding screenshots, and tailoring which memories appear in their feed.
These updates reinforce Google Photos’ commitment to leveraging AI for a more intuitive and enriched user experience. While democratizing advanced editing tools enables users to achieve professional-quality results effortlessly, it also raises discussions about the distinction between authentic and AI-enhanced images. The latest sharing enhancements seek to simplify connections through photography, underscoring AI’s central role in shaping Google Photos’ evolution into its next decade.
