Every family and friendship group has that one person who is always the designated photographer.
If that’s you, you’ll be happy to hear that the days of missing out on being in group photos are finally a thing of the past.
Google’s Pixel 9 smartphones go on sale this week, and there’s one new tool that people can’t wait to try – Add Me.
As the name suggests, Add Me allows photographers to add themselves into group snaps, using artificial intelligence (AI).
Ahead of its release tomorrow, Google sent MailOnline’s Shivali Best the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL so she could try Add Me for herself – with hilarious results.
Ahead of the Pixel 9 release tomorrow, Google sent MailOnline’s Shivali Best the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL so she could try Add Me for herself – with hilarious results
After months of anticipation, Google finally unveiled four new smartphones to the world last week – the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
These devices are packed with powerful AI capabilities, with Google claiming that it has ‘rebuilt the operating system with AI at the core’.
Before it goes on sale tomorrow, Google kindly sent me the Pixel 9 Pro XL to try out.
When the phone arrived in the office, the stunning Rose Quartz colour initially had me mesmerised.
However, there was really only one thing I was interested in trying – the new Add Me tool.
‘Add Me can seamlessly merge two photos into one amazing image,’ Google explained when it announced the feature.
‘It combines true-to-the-moment photography with the power of AI and augmented reality, so everyone who was there can be in your pictures.’
To put Add Me to the test, I headed out to a nearby spot that I knew would be flooded with tourists snapping group photos and selfies – Kensington Palace.
As I tried to explain the feature to the first few groups of tourists, they looked at me like I had lost the plot, which was somewhat understandable.
However, I eventually found a friendly American couple who were willing to be my test subjects.
Add Me is built-in to the Pixel 9 Pro XL and could quickly be accessed by opening the camera app and swiping through the settings at the bottom of the screen
Add Me is built-in to the Pixel 9 Pro XL and could quickly be accessed by opening the camera app and swiping through the settings at the bottom of the screen.
Once I’d reached Add Me, a cartoon pop up appeared, explaining how to use the tool.
‘Photographer 1. Leave space for yourself. Take the first photo,’ Google told me.
As instructed, I positioned my willing subjects in front of Kensington Palace with a Shivali-shaped space beside them, before shouting ‘cheese!’ and tapping the shutter button.
Google fans’ long wait is over as the tech giant reveals four new phones, including the long-anticipated Pixel 9 Pro Fold
| Feature | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch | 6.8-inch |
| Battery | 4700 mAh | 5060 mAh |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP wide camera48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera | 50MP wide camera48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera |
| Front Camera | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus |
| Colours | Obsidian Porcelain Hazel Rose Quartz | Obsidian Porcelain Hazel Rose Quartz |
| Price | £999 | £1,099 |
The cartoon instructions popped back up, telling me – Photographer 1 – to hand over the Pixel and join the scene.
The couple – now referred to by Google as ‘Photographer 2’ – swapped positions with, with the lady taking the Pixel from me while I stepped into the frame.
Based on the instructions in the viewfinder, the lady told me where to stand, advising me to move back, so as not to look like a giant next to them.
As I gave my best grin and double thumbs up, she tapped the shutter.
Within seconds, Google’s AI got to work, merging the photo of the couple with my awkward third-wheel snap.
While the final photo isn’t perfect, you’d have to be studying it fairly thoroughly to spot the flaws.
In the time between the two photos, the light must have subtly changed, meaning that if you look closely at my legs, the surrounding ground is a slightly different colour.
And despite the lady’s best efforts to position me, I was still a little bit too close to the camera, which means I look slightly too tall in the final image.
Overall, it’s safe to say that my first go at using Add Me wasn’t flawless.
However, considering the fact that I was testing it with complete strangers who hadn’t even heard of the tool before, the final photo is pretty impressive.
As someone who is often the designated photographer, Add Me is definitely going to become a go-to tool for me at hen parties, weddings, and family functions in the future!
