The Magic Editor feature in Google Photos, known for its ability to alter photos has limitations that users of the Pixel 8 series should be aware of. Android Authority recently explored the Google Photos v.6.60 patch and discovered restrictions imposed by the Magic Editor tool on certain types of edits.
According to the uncovered code strings the Magic Editor tool is cautious when it comes to certain subjects. It refuses to make changes to images of “ID cards, receipts,” or any other documents that violate Googles GenAI terms. Additionally it avoids editing images with identifiable information, human faces, body parts or large selected areas in a photo. The limitation on selections is due to the tools preference for avoiding data intensive edits. If you select portions in a photo an error message will appear guiding you to keep your selections concise and focused.
Android Authority points out that the previous version of Magic Editor lacked error messages, which caused confusion for Pixel 8 owners when their edits didn’t turn out as expected. However with the update users will now receive clearer communication, about what went wrong and enjoy a more user friendly experience.
During an experiment on a Chromebook Plus laptop Android Authority tested the Magic Eraser tool to see how it performs when editing a drivers license photo. While it may not be as advanced, as the Magic Editor, the Magic Eraser still utilizes an AI model that can effectively conceal aspects of the image.
This indicates that there is definitely room for improvement in updates to ensure consistent enforcement of content guidelines. Furthermore Android Authority also uncovered some hints suggesting that Magic Editor might introduce a feature called “prompt based editing.” Although details are scarce and a few lines of code hint, at its existence it seems like Google is actively working on enhancing the capabilities of Magic Editor.
