Google Photos wasn't the search engine's first image management platform, but it has established itself as one of the company's most popular apps. When it launched in 2015, the service made a splash by branching out from the Google+ social network and offering unlimited free storage (at the time) for compressed images.
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This generosity didn't last. In 2021, Google began limiting photo uploads to 15GB for free users, sharing that storage with other services like Gmail and Drive. Today, Google is pushing its users toward a paid Google One subscription to get more space.
Despite these restrictions, adoption remains massive. Users conduct more than 370 million searches in Photos each month, a feature that already allowed users to search within images a decade ago—a remarkable technical feat at the time.
Google is now relying on AI to redesign most of its products with Gemini. For its tenth anniversary, the Photos app maker is getting an injection of artificial intelligence that could become one of Google's most used features. After all, more than 210 million images are edited in Photos each month.
This new editor now makes "helpful suggestions" and consolidates all editing tools in one place. The app can suggest multiple edits at once to improve images. Simply tap or circle specific parts of a photo to get suggestions for tools tailored to that area.
Two features previously exclusive to Pixel 9 smartphones are coming to more devices: Reimagine and Auto Frame. The first allows you to select a part of the image and enter a command to edit it, remove an object, or add something new using generative AI. Auto Frame automatically adjusts the framing of a photo and uses generative AI to fill in spaces around the main subject.
Google is also introducing a new way to share albums via QR codes, a feature that complements existing URL links and contacts. This classic sharing option is used more than 440 million times per month.
Users can now display the code on their screen or print it to allow others to view and, depending on the permissions granted, add images to an album. This solution could prove useful for collecting and sharing photos at events or parties.
The editor update will arrive on Android devices this June. iPhone users will have to wait until later this year to take advantage of these new tools.
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