MOUNTAIN VIEW – Google is officially streamlining the photo editing experience for millions of Android users today, April 7, 2026. In a major update rolling out globally, Google Photos has introduced “AI Enhance,” a powerful one-tap solution designed to replace complex manual sliders, alongside a significant overhaul to the fan-favorite Magic Eraser tool.
The “AI Enhance” Button: One Tap to Perfection
The most visible change in the latest Google Photos update is the prominent AI Enhance button. Previously an experimental feature limited to the flagship Pixel 10 series, this tool is now expanding to all Android devices.
Unlike the traditional “Auto” fix, AI Enhance uses the same Gemini 3 architecture found in Google’s flagship phones to perform a deep semantic analysis of every image. It doesn’t just brighten the photo; it understands the context. For instance:
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Landscape Shots: The AI identifies the sky and the ground separately, boosting the blue of the atmosphere while recovering shadow detail in the terrain.
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Low Light: It intelligently reduces noise in dark areas without “smudging” skin textures or fine details.
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Portraits: The tool automatically applies a subtle “Portrait Light” effect, simulating professional studio lighting even on photos taken years ago.
For those who find the three generated options in the previous version overwhelming, Google is also testing “AI Enhance I,” a version that produces just one definitive “best” result to reduce choice fatigue.
Magic Eraser 3.0: Precision and “Reimagine” Integration
The legendary Magic Eraser has also been updated to version 3.0. This patch addresses long-standing user complaints about “ghosting” or “blurry patches” left behind after removing large objects. The new version utilizes generative fill technology to recreate the background behind an erased object with 90% higher accuracy.
Crucially, Magic Eraser is now being consolidated with the “Reimagine” tool. If the AI cannot perfectly guess what was behind a removed object—such as a complex brick wall or a crowded street—it will prompt the user to “Reimagine” the space. You can now type simple commands like “fill with green grass” or “add a wooden fence” to seamlessly bridge the gap.
The Removal of Gesture Shortcuts
In a move that has sparked some debate among power users, Google has officially removed gesture-based shortcuts (like circling or scribbling directly on a photo to trigger Erase). According to a support page update today, this change was made to prevent accidental triggers during basic tasks like cropping or rotating. Users must now access these tools “the old-fashioned way” through the Tools or Actions menus.
Video Speed Controls
Beyond photos, the update finally brings built-in video playback speed controls to the Google Photos app. Users can now choose from five different speeds (0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x, and 2x) directly within the three-dot menu. This long-requested feature allows users to slow down fast-action clips or quickly scan through lengthy family videos without needing a third-party editor.
