Google Photos Adds ‘AI Enhance’ and Video Playback Speed Controls for Android
Google Photos has launched a new "AI Enhance" button for Android, providing one-tap automatic adjustments for lighting and colour. Alongside this, the app now supports video playback speed controls ranging from 0.25X to 2X. While the AI photo tool is rolling out globally as of April 7, 2026, the video features are currently in a phased release for select regions.
Google has introduced two significant updates to its Google Photos app on Android, aimed at simplifying the media editing and viewing experience. The global rollout includes an "AI Enhance" tool for one-tap photo corrections and new granular playback speed controls for video content. These additions represent Google’s ongoing effort to integrate automated machine learning tools into its core consumer applications.
The update, announced via Google’s official social media channels and community pages, targets everyday users who seek professional-grade adjustments without manual fine-tuning. While the photo editing tool is currently reaching a global audience, the video playback features are appearing in a phased release across different regions. Sundar Pichai Confirms New Feature To Change Primary Gmail Address; Know How To Change Your Google Account Email.
One-Tap Photo Editing with AI Enhance
The new AI Enhance feature is designed to function as a comprehensive, single-step editing solution. By selecting the option within the Google Photos editor, the app automatically analyses and adjusts lighting, contrast, and colour balance. This tool is specifically optimised to correct images captured in suboptimal conditions, such as low-light environments or scenes with uneven exposure.
By acting as a shortcut to traditional editing sliders, AI Enhance allows for a polished finish in a fraction of the time. Google has positioned this as a primary tool for users who prefer automated quality improvements over manual technical adjustments.
New Granular Controls for Video Playback
In addition to photo improvements, Google has added native playback speed controls for videos stored within the app. Previously, users had limited options for adjusting the speed of their clips during playback. The new interface allows users to select from five different speed settings: 0.25X, 0.5X, 1X, 1.5X, and 2X.
To access these controls, users must open a video, tap the "More" menu (represented by three vertical dots), and select "Playback speed." This feature is particularly useful for reviewing high-speed action in slow motion or quickly skimming through long video recordings.
Feature Availability and Implementation
The AI Enhance tool is already rolling out globally to Android devices, whereas the video playback speed controls are in an earlier stage of distribution. Google expects both features to reach the wider Android user base gradually over the coming weeks. WhatsApp New Feature Update: Meta-Owned Platform Rolls Out ‘Status Ads and Promoted Channels’ Feature for Android Beta Users, Brings Sponsored Content in Updates Tab.
These updates follow a broader trend of "AI-first" feature sets being deployed by Google in 2026, including the recently launched 'AI Edge Eloquent' for offline speech-to-text. By shifting complex processing tasks to automated AI buttons, Google aims to reduce the technical barrier for high-quality mobile media management.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2026 04:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).