Google Photos is adding a new Cinematic effect that'll give your 2D photos a 3D look.
Google explains that it's using machine learning to predict the depth of an image and create a 3D representation of the scene, even if your original photo doesn't include any depth info from the camera. Then Google animates a virtual camera to give your photo a smooth panning effect, creating the 3D look.
The Cinematic effect will be automatically applied to images in the Memories section of your Google Photos app. When you get a Cinematic photo, you can choose to save it or share it as a video. The feature will be rolling out over the next month.
Years back, one feature that was added to smartphones but never really seemed to catch on was 3D photos. One example was the HTC Evo 3D, which had two rear cameras that could capture photos and videos in 3D as well as 2D. Fast-forward to today and Google Photos can give your photos a 3D effect using machine learning rather than having dedicated hardware.
Google Photos is also in the process of adding new collage designs, adding new layouts that are populated and stylized with AI. It picks the right layout for your photos by examining the images and then selecting a collage with similar colors and then using them to accent the font and background colors.
Finally, the Memories feature in Google Photos is adding new themes to help you remember important things in your past. Right now you'll see Memories feature important people in your life, and starting soon, you'll also get Memories about your favorite things and activities based on the images that you upload.