Unreleased code in Google Photos v8.0 points to an upgraded Ask Photos interface capable of performing multi-step tasks like editing and album creation.
The Google Photos Ask Photos feature may soon expand beyond search queries to complete multi-step tasks. Code uncovered in Google Photos version 8.0 reveals an unannounced interface overhaul that could turn the assistant into a task engine. Existing versions of the assistant answer questions and locate specific photos and videos from personal libraries. The experimental build adds workflows that find, enhance, and add photos to albums from a single request, while suggesting follow-up creations inside the conversation.
Code in version 8.0 references a redesigned conversational overlay that invites users to “Search or start a task” and asks: “What can I answer or help you get done today?” The code also includes distinct labels for “Ask,” “Task,” and “Automations,” suggesting Google may distinguish between conversational queries and action-oriented requests. The “Ask” label appears to align with current Ask Photos functionality, while “Task” could cover actions, including bulk tasks like deleting and archiving photos.
Testers activated the new experience in Google Photos version 8.0 and entered a single compound request: “Show me two pictures of my dog, enhance them and add them to a new album called ‘lucyyy’.” Ask Photos determined that the dog was named Lucy and initiated the multi-step process without requiring separate commands.
As the command executed, Ask Photos showed each step as it progressed: “Searching for ‘Photos of Lucy,'” followed by “Reviewing 200 search results,” and “Editing photo.” After enhancing two photos, the tool asked the testers to check them, displaying buttons to “Save all” or “Edit selection” to keep only preferred images. It paused for approval rather than acting on its own.
Once confirmed, Ask Photos created the album and asked whether the testers wanted to share it or create a collage of Lucy. When the collage option was selected, the tool generated three collage options from the two enhanced photos. Tapping “Save all” saved all three, after which Ask Photos offered to add them to the album as well.
The sequence demonstrated a search, an edit, an album creation, and a collage creation without leaving the conversation. Ask Photos paused for approval before saving or creating anything.
These capabilities could live in a new overlay anchored at the bottom of the Google Photos app, similar to the Gemini overlay on Android. Users will likely be able to collapse the overlay or drag it up to expand into a full-screen chat. Conversations will likely remain until a new chat is started, which allowed Ask Photos to track the album and collage across requests during testing.
Suggested prompts like “Create an album of my best portraits” and “Suggest old receipts I could delete” stack above the overlay, along with a row of people and pets to quickly pick from. When a user attaches a photo, the suggestions could switch to contextual actions for that photo instead.
Beyond chained requests, Ask Photos (codenamed “ellmann”) could potentially surface contextual action chips linked to existing Google Photos tools. These options include creating an album, collage, GIF, or cinematic photo, erasing distractions, finding related photos, or making a highlight video. In testing, tapping “Create a cinematic photo” generated three cinematic previews, allowing testers to save all of them or pick favorites.
Ask Photos could potentially also serve as a shortcut to different parts of Google Photos, jumping straight to Favorites, Archive, Recently added, Screenshots, Map View, and Trash, or opening Video Maker directly.
The code also includes an Automations entry. On Android, Google already allows Gemini to manage multi-step Google Photos workflows, including recurring background tasks like creating monthly highlight albums. Because Ask Photos can chain tasks, a dedicated Automations section could bring similar recurring workflows directly into Google Photos.
The code strings do not reveal how Automations would work, and tapping the option currently crashes the app.
Google has not announced any of these upgrades yet.
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