Google Photos' new Conversational Editing feature, which lets users edit images via voice or typed prompts, is unavailable to users in Texas and Illinois. The restriction stems from state biometric privacy laws that limit the collection and storage of facial geometry data required by the feature's companion Face Groups function. Both states have previously sued Google over biometric data practices, leading the company to disable the feature in those regions while keeping it active elsewhere in the United States. Read more →

Google's new Conversational Editing tool in Google Photos is unavailable to users in Texas and Illinois because state biometric privacy statutes restrict the collection of facial geometry data required by the app’s Face Groups feature. Legal experts say the laws, including Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act and Texas' Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act, limit how biometric identifiers can be stored, transmitted, or retained. Google has disabled the feature in those states while offering similar functionality through its Gemini app, which does not rely on Face Groups. Read more →

Google Photos has rolled out a new conversational editing feature that lets users modify images by typing or speaking commands. Initially limited to the Pixel lineup, the tool now reaches a broader set of Android devices. Eligible users—18 or older, located in the United States, with English (US) language settings, Face Groups, and location estimates enabled—can ask the app to make specific adjustments such as increasing saturation or to reimagine scenes entirely. Settings allow users to manage Gemini‑powered features and control data access. Read more →

Google Photos is extending its conversational editing feature beyond Pixel devices to Android smartphones in the United States. The tool lets users request photo changes by speaking or typing commands, leveraging advanced Gemini AI capabilities. To access the feature, users tap the “Help me edit” button, then describe edits such as removing background strangers, lightening colors, or eliminating glare. Availability requires an English-language Google account with Face Groups and location estimates turned on, and the interface presents original and edited images side‑by‑side for easy comparison. Read more →