Google Photos Turns 10 With a Smarter, AI-Powered Redesign

Reimagine, Auto Frame, and QR Sharing Headline the Anniversary Update

Google Photos is blowing out its 10th-birthday candles with a major overhaul—and a suite of AI tools that were once Pixel exclusives. The redesigned editor, rolling out globally next month, introduces features like Reimagine, which lets you rewrite photo history with text prompts. Want to swap a rainy sky for “clear blue skies” or add a fictional pet to a family portrait? Generative AI handles the heavy lifting.

“This isn’t just filters or sliders—it’s about giving photos a second life,” says a Google spokesperson.

Another standout, Auto Frame, tackles composition woes. It suggests crops, widens shots with AI-generated fills (think Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill), or even recommends portrait-to-landscape conversions. Meanwhile, the revamped editor consolidates tools under one roof, prioritizing AI-powered nudges. Need to sharpen a blurry subject or erase photobombers? The new AI Enhance button combines these steps, while targeted edits allow tweaks like isolating background lighting or adjusting bokeh intensity.

The update lands on Android first, with iOS trailing “later this year.” But the party doesn’t stop there: Google’s also rolling out QR code sharing for albums. Print codes for weddings or group trips, and contributors can scan to add photos—no app installs required. It’s a pragmatic twist on collaborative nostalgia, perfect for events where not everyone uses the same platform.

Ten years in, Google Photos isn’t just storing memories—it’s actively reshaping them. Whether that’s ethical magic or uncanny valley territory depends on how much control you’re willing to surrender to algorithms. Either way, your future vacation photos might look suspiciously perfect.