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Throughout my years reviewing tech, my jaw rarely drops at new products. As a skeptical journalist, I value discernment.

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But I failed to maintain that detachment when Google demoed a few imaging tricks on its new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones.

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Taken in a vacuum, these features are things anyone with knowledge of Photoshop or video editing software can execute.

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But the new Pixel phones make them accessible to everyone, which is exciting, and frankly a little scary. Let’s go through ’em.

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Google teased this feature during its developer conference in May. It’s the natural evolution of Magic Eraser, which Google debuted a few years ago.

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Magic Editor elevates your photos to a whole new level with its transformative powers.

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During a demo, Google showcased Magic Editor in Google Photos app, impressively cutting out a running girl on a beach with precision.

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They were then able to move the subject anywhere in the scene, and the software filled in the space left behind with what it thought should be there.

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Magic Editor in Google Photos also lets you adjust scene lighting. Change harsh noon lighting to golden hour warmth, and even add a sunset for that perfect shot!

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Spokesperson made kid shooting a basketball appear to dunk mid-air, saying, "You can move their shadow too!

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Last year, I spoke with Ramesh Raskar, an associate professor at MIT Media Lab, about computational photography and digital photo alteration.

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Raskar's foresight: Firms assume consumers want instant, pleasing visuals over reality-matched ones.

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Best Take: Perfect group photos for active kids – relief and maybe panic for parents.

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Similar to Google's Top Shot, Best Take selects the best frame from a burst of up to six rapid shots for optimal photos.

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Magic Eraser removes stuff you don’t want to see in your photos. Now, with the Pixel 8 series, it can also eliminate sounds you don’t want to hear.