Google is expanding its use of generative AI inside Google Photos with a major update that brings the company’s Nano Banana model to both Android and iOS devices. The rollout marks one of Google’s most significant cross-platform pushes for its AI-powered editing tools, giving iPhone users access to features that until now were exclusive to Pixel and Android users.
At the center of the update is an improved Help Me Edit feature, which now uses Nano Banana to process more complex, conversational commands. Users can describe edits in plain language—such as “remove Riley’s sunglasses” or “turn this photo into a Renaissance painting”—and the AI interprets and executes those requests. The system can even reference specific people using Google Photos’ face groups, allowing for edits that target individuals by name.
The update also introduces a set of ready-made generative templates under a new “Create with AI” section. These templates serve as guided starting points for users unfamiliar with manual editing tools, offering one-tap prompts like “make me a professional headshot” or “add me to a winter holiday card.” The goal is to make AI-assisted photo creation approachable for casual users while keeping it flexible for those seeking more customization.
Beyond editing, Google Photos is gaining a new contextual feature called “Ask.” When viewing a photo, users can tap an on-screen button to learn more about what’s in the image or to surface related photos. The feature is launching first in the US. Meanwhile, the separate “Ask Photos” tool—which lets users search their photo libraries using natural language queries—is expanding to over 100 additional countries and 17 languages.
Apple offers a comparable AI-assisted search and categorization system in its own Photos app, but Google’s broader rollout and cloud-based model suggest an edge in both scale and sophistication. For iPhone users, the update effectively levels the field, giving them access to the same generative tools already popular on Android.
All of these features are beginning to roll out now and are expected to reach users worldwide in the coming days. With Nano Banana at its core, Google Photos continues to move from a simple storage service toward an intelligent visual assistant capable of reshaping images through natural conversation.
