Key Takeaways

• A recent Google Photos Update prepares a new generative AI feature called "Moods" that automatically transforms images to match specific aesthetics, like "2000's cinema" or "Crisp 35mm".
• The code reveals eight distinct "Moods," alongside a new "Video remix" button that replaces the previous interface, signaling a major push toward one-tap AI editing.
• These new tools further pivot Google Photos away from a simple image library and into an automated creative studio designed to match viral social media trends.

Google Photos is testing yet more generative AI features for both photos and video. It’s a move that jumps on emergent social media trends, pushing the app another step further away from its photo library roots and pivoting towards a generative AI creation hub.

The latest addition is a new “Moods” feature, recently discovered under test within the app code by the team at Android Authority, that presents a selection of carefully curated adaptive photo filters that use generative AI to understand the content of your photos rather than simply layering basic photographic edits on top. Unlike Instagram’s flashy Restyle effects with their obvious AI-first presentation, Moods pushes in the opposite direction, targeting a more authentic-looking retro vibe.

This new app version, v7.81, also reveals the first explicit mention of the upcoming “Video remix” feature, previously codenamed “Soba,” that I called out in a previous article.

Google Photos Update: Eight 'Moods' Uncovered

Eight different “Moods” are prepared for launch, along with brief descriptions below:

• Airy Minimalist: Polished lighting for a clean look
• Crisp 35mm: Classic analog look with balanced contrast
• 2000’s cinema: Subtle shifts for movie-like colors
• Rich textures: Deepens contrast for tactile details
• Pink digicam: Colorful nostalgia with a subtle pink boost
• Retro contrast: Deep shadows, bold tint
• Night lights: Soft, dreamy evening aesthetic
• 2000’s night: Deep nightlife colors with digital noise

Code for all eight of these Moods has been lurking in the app code for some time now, but 19 others remain that have yet to see the light of day. These include examples with branded identities like “Fuji Pro” and “Kodak Porta,” suggesting that Moods could expand in scope very quickly if it proves successful.

A big clue as to Google’s intentions for the feature comes in the form of the Moods icon itself, a roll of 35mm film with the end of the film exposed as though ready to be inserted into a film camera. Also in the app’s Create tab, sitting directly above the Moods button is a new “Video remix” button, now given its official name and replacing the previous YouTube-like icon with a new circular play button featuring a tell-tale sparkle, indicating its use of Gemini generative AI. Both features are flagged as “New” in the interface, suggesting their imminent launch.

Note that, in its current state, Moods has no overt AI-branding. The icon features no Gemini sparkle, and it’s just “Moods,” not “Magic Moods,” or “Nano Banana Moods.” The focus here is purely on delivering pleasing results, rather than a chance to play around with faddy AI toys.

It’s somewhat ironic to find Google deploying its most advanced AI tech to re-capture the aesthetics of authentic analog or retro digital cameras. While users yearn for a more authentic, organic look, their images move even farther from what is real. However, by cleverly matching these Moods to contemporary social media trends, Google will attract more users towards Google Photos by letting them achieve these viral aesthetics in a single tap, right from their photo library and away from social media apps, possibly without even realizing they’re using AI.