Google Photos Touch-Up Tools Now Whiten Teeth and Remove Blemishes
Quick Reads
- Google Photos now has built-in touch-up tools for face editing.
- Users can whiten teeth, smooth skin, and remove blemishes in seconds.
- The tools are powered by deep learning and AI.
- The rollout covers Android devices with at least 4GB RAM and Android 9.0+.
- Critics note that regular photo retouching may affect self-esteem and body image.
Google Photos touch-up tools are making selfie fixes easier than ever. The Google Photos image editor is now getting new touch-up tools, allowing users to apply subtle edits and quick fixes. Google announced the update on Monday, and it is already turning heads across the tech world.
The new Google Photos touch-up tools cover a wide range of face edits. Users can refine skin texture, remove blemishes, brighten eyes, or whiten teeth in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, the process is straightforward and does not require any technical editing skills.
To get started, users simply open a photo and tap a face. From there, they can choose from options including heal, smooth, under eyes, irises, teeth, eyebrows, or lips, and each effect comes with an intensity slider. So, users can fine-tune how strong or subtle the changes appear.
Notably, the tools do not run on basic filters alone. Google powers all the touch-up features with deep learning and artificial intelligence. However, it did not highlight this detail prominently. The AI approach allows for more natural-looking results compared to older beauty sliders.
Google also has a strategic reason behind the launch. By building its own touch-up tools, Google is likely trying to keep users within the app instead of switching to a third-party app for face edits. Additionally, the move places these Google Photos touch-up tools alongside existing AI features like Magic Editor and Magic Eraser, further cementing the app as an all-in-one editing platform.
However, the rollout is not without concern. The update is launching at a time when many parents feel frustrated about how social media impacts their children, and Google recently lost a lawsuit over the role YouTube played in these very issues. Moreover, studies have shown that constantly retouching photos may be harmful and lead to negative emotions, low self-esteem, or body image issues.
As for availability, the new editing tools are rolling out worldwide for Google Photos on Android devices with at least 4GB of RAM and Android 9.0 or newer. There is no word yet on an iOS release date.
