Magic Editor was introduced earlier this year at the Google I/O 2023, and the feature has now reached out to many people and is even available on the latest Pixel 8 series. The feature allows you to use generative AI, and you can go ahead and perform some edits that would be otherwise too complicated to do without the help of AI.

Magic Editor could be scary for some, but Google has ensured that it does not violate privacy with sensitive information

The feature also allows the users to have a lower skill level and still make the edits. However, there is the question of ethics with Magic Editor, and a lot of people have wondered if Google has put any parameters to prevent people from misusing the feature. We have now learned that there are indeed some limitations that prevent people from making some questionable edits.

Google Photos v6.60 includes code that displays several error messages that users would run into when they want to use Magic Editor to perform certain edits. You can check out the error messages below.

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_edit_document_photo_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t edit photos of ID cards, receipts, and other documents that violate Google’s GenAI terms. Try Magic Editor on a different

photo.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_edit_face_photo_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t edit faces. Try selecting something else.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_edit_large_area_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t erase or move large selections. Try making a smaller selection.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_edit_part_of_body_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t edit parts of people. Try selecting something else.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_edit_too_much_being_generated_dialog_text">Can’t complete edit. Try moving your selection less.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_generate_personally_identifiable_information_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t generate images that may have personally identifiable information. Try typing something else.</string>

<string name="photos_photoeditor_udon_cannot_show_results_dialog_text">Magic Editor can’t complete this edit. Try a different edit.</string>

So, if you look at the strings and try to make sense of them, you will realize that Magic Editor will not make edits to photos of ID cards and other documents that are in violation of Google's GenAI terms. It will also not edit any personally identifiable information, human faces, body parts, large selections, or selections that need a lot of data to be generated.

Honestly, it is nice to see Google putting these limitations on the Magic Editor. They can be terrifying when they are done the right way, and one can only hope as the app learns more complex edits, Google keeps adding more limitations that prevent people from editing anything that is sensitive or violates the terms and conditions.

News Source: Android Authority