Machine learning techniques are leveraged to essentially add 3D motion that might have happened in the lead-up to taking an image

Google Photos is rounding out the year with upgraded camera animations for ‘Cinematic photos,’ as well as the wide availability of several Memories-related features.

Google announced Cinematic photos a year ago to help ‘relive your memories in a way that feels more vivid and realistic.’ Machine learning techniques are leveraged to essentially add 3D motion that might have happened in the lead-up to taking an image:

To do this, we use machine learning to predict an image’s depth and produce a 3D representation of the scene — even if the original image doesn’t include depth information from the camera, says Jamie Aspinall, product manager, Google Photos. Then we animate a virtual camera for a smooth panning effect — just like out of the movies.

Once you’ve updated to the latest version of the Google Photos app, you’ll start to see new, cinematic versions of your Memories as featured highlights at the top of the app’s photo grid. From there, you’ll be able to share your image with friends and family members as a short video clip.

Machine learning now ‘fills in parts of the background behind the subject, allowing the virtual camera to move more freely as it finds the best framing to bring attention to your subject’, it said. Google is currently rolling out this upgrade to Cinematic photos.

Meanwhile, the People & Pets widget that lets you essentially place a live album on your homescreen is widely rolled out on Android. Similarly, event Memories will show you New Year’s Eve, Halloween, birthdays, graduations, and more. There’s also wide availability of Memories on the Nest Hub’s “Your day” tab.