Apple’s Photos app is getting new AI editing features

Editor's take

Apple's Photos app will soon incorporate an AI-driven "Reframe" capability, allowing users to alter the perspective of existing videos. This feature leverages computational photography, similar to techniques employed by other platforms like Google Photos, to offer a new level of post-capture creative control. For Apple, it signifies a move to integrate more sophisticated generative AI directly into its core consumer applications, enhancing the value proposition of its devices and ecosystem.

The impact extends to everyday users seeking to salvage or creatively enhance their captured memories without requiring specialized software or expertise. This move also positions Apple to compete more directly with third-party editing tools, potentially reducing reliance on external apps for simple video adjustments. The broader AI landscape sees another major player embedding generative capabilities into widely adopted consumer products.

Future developments to monitor include the computational cost and battery drain associated with this processing, as well as the potential for "Reframe" to be expanded to other Apple applications like iMovie or Final Cut Pro. The accuracy and quality of the perspective shifts, especially in complex scenes with multiple subjects, will also be key indicators of its success and adoption.