Windows Photos Gets a Magic Touch: New AI-Powered Object Eraser Arrives

With the help of AI, the app is transforming from a simple photo viewer into a capable editing suite, making it easier for everyone to create stunning and professional-looking images.

Ridha Fathima
Ridha Fathima February 25, 2024
Updated 2024/02/25 at 4:40 PM

The humble Photos app on Windows PCs just got a significant upgrade, thanks to the introduction of a powerful new feature: Generative Erase. This AI-powered tool empowers users to effortlessly remove unwanted objects and distractions from their photos, bringing them closer to achieving picture-perfect moments.

Previously, the Photos app offered a basic “Spot Fix” tool for removing minor blemishes. However, Generative Erase takes things a step further by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. This advanced technology allows users to tackle larger, more complex objects, seamlessly integrating them into the background for a more natural and realistic outcome.

Unlike traditional editing tools that simply erase pixels, Generative Erase takes a more sophisticated approach. It analyzes the surrounding content, understands the scene, and then generates a new, seamless replacement for the removed object. This results in a more natural and believable edit, even when dealing with large or complex elements.

Whether you’re a casual photographer or a seasoned photo editor, Generative Erase offers a valuable tool for enhancing your images. Photographers can use it to remove unwanted objects that detract from the composition, while editors can leverage it for more precise and realistic edits.

Beyond the Eraser: Expanding the AI Editing Toolkit

The arrival of Generative Erase marks a significant step forward for the Photos app, but it’s not the only AI-powered editing feature available. Users can also:

  • Blur Background: Create a professional-looking portrait effect by automatically blurring the background behind your subject.
  • Remove and Replace Background: Completely remove the background from your photo and replace it with a new image, opening up creative possibilities for photo manipulation.

    Three images showing the steps of using Magic Eraser in Google Photos.

Generative Erase is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in all channels, including those on Windows 10. To access the feature, ensure your Photos app is updated to version 2024.11020.21001.0 or higher. Additionally, Microsoft has announced that all existing AI editing features, including Generative Erase, are now available for Windows 11 on Arm64 devices and for the first time on Windows 10.

The introduction of Generative Erase signifies Microsoft’s commitment to continuously improving the Photos app and empowering users with powerful editing tools. With the help of AI, the app is transforming from a simple photo viewer into a capable editing suite, making it easier for everyone to create stunning and professional-looking images.

The arrival of Generative Erase in the Windows Photos app marks a significant step forward for photo editing on Windows PCs. This AI-powered tool empowers users to remove unwanted objects and distractions with ease, creating more polished and professional-looking images.

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