What you need to know
- Google says a camera feature it teased during I/O 2023 is finally rolling out to the Pixel 8 Pro alongside availability for Pixel 9 Pro devices.
- “Zoom Enhance” leverages the device’s AI software to “intelligently” process zoom to maintain high photo quality.
- Made by Google 2024 was packed with new AI features like Gemini Live, the revamped Pixel Screenshot, and the Pixel 9’s new “Add Me” camera feature.
Google is bringing a photography feature to the Pixel 9 that you may have forgotten about. Zoom Enhance, originally announced at Google I/O 2023 for the Pixel 8 Pro, is coming soon to the Pixel 9 and 8 phones.
Zoom Enhance aims to correct the typical quality loss that occurs when you zoom in too much for a distant photo. Google Blog Post (through The edge) includes the feature among a number of other recently announced features such as Add me and reimagine with Magic Editor.
Google says that users who zoom into a photo will take advantage of the device’s AI software as it “intelligently fills in the gaps between pixels and predicts fine details.” Ultimately, the feature is designed to help keep the quality of a photo high as you zoom in to isolate certain aspects.
Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh first introduced the feature in Created by Google in 2023and claimed it would allow users to “get closer than ever before, even when they forget to zoom” through the camera. Despite being expected to arrive on the Pixel 8 series relatively quickly, it had a longer development cycle than expected.
As highlighted by The Verge, the Zoom Enhance example looks a bit lackluster and doesn’t show a significant improvement in quality (we can’t upload the GIF here, so check out the blog for it). We’ll have to try out Zoom Enhance for ourselves to see if it was worth the wait, or if Google had to compromise on its original goal with the AI feature.
The company claims that the Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XLand the 9 Pro Fold will have this feature. In addition, the company is incorporating it into the Pixel 8 Pro today (August 15).
There is a lot to digest regarding recent events. Made by Google event, but one of the highlights revolves around the Pixel 9’s wealth of AI features and camera improvements. With the Pixel 9 Pro, for example, you can get 20X Super Res zoom or automatically upscale videos to 8K quality.
One revelation from Made by Google was a new version of its AI model, called Gemini liveThis is its most “conversational” variant. Users can communicate with the AI on a wide range of topics and (ideally) receive relevant information in return.
The revamped Pixel Screenshots comes with Pixel Studio to provide AI assistance when storing or using a message to generate a photo.
The flip side of Google’s new features is one for the Pixel 9’s camera called “Add Me.” The company held a live demo during the event featuring NBA star Jimmy Butler. Users can take a photo via Add Me and freeze that memory in time. They can then swap places with one of the subjects so they can be photographed.
The result is a photo that looks as if you or something else has always been in the frame all along.