Google’s new ‘Reimagine’ feature uses AI to transform objects in pictures — and I saw it in action

Google unloaded a wave of new AI features at the Made by Google event today — and one of them is a new Magic Editor feature called “Reimagine.” For the uninitiated, Magic Editor was unveiled during the debut of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and it allows users to tap into generative AI to make complex photo edits, like object removal and unblurring a hazy, unclear photo.

Now, Google is taking it up a notch alongside the release of the new Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold (whew, that was a mouthful). The search engine giant has dropped a new AI-powered Magic Editor feature called Reimagine, which allows you to select an object in a photo — and transform it into anything you want (within reason, of course) with a prompt.

I was able to see this feature in action at a recent press event, and wow, it blew me away.

I watched Google’s new ‘Reimagine’ use AI to transform one object to another

On a Pixel 9 series phone, a Google rep showed us a photo of a road, with a car driving on it, that appeared to be flanked by two cliffs. In the background, you can find an imposing mountain in the distance.

The original photo for Reimagine’s editing.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On the device, the Google rep tapped on the “Edit” button followed by a bottom-right purple icon that led him to the Magic Editor tool. Next, he tapped on the road, which allowed the AI to isolate it from the other elements in the picture. And it shows the user what, exactly, has been isolated with a translucent white overlay,

The Google rep tapped on the road to select it for the Reimagine tool.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Google rep tapped the car, too, adding that as another object in the picture, in addition to the road, that he’d like to isolate for Reimagine.

The car got in on the Reimagine fun, too.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

He hit the “Reimagine” button on the bottom right, which prompted a text field to appear. With the road and car selected in the photo, the Google rep typed in that he’d like to “reimagine” them as a raging river.

The Google repped typed “raging river” as a prompt for Reimagine.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

He hit send. I waited about 15 seconds for the generative AI model to do its thing, and voila, I received some stunning options from the Reimagine tool, with the first one being my favorite.

Reimagine result one
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Reimagine result two
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can enjoy Reimagine in all of its glory across the entire Pixel 9 series, which dropped today. Stay tuned for more coverage on Google’s new phones as well as the search engine giant’s new generative AI developments.