Cleaning up your library in Google Photos may soon be a matter of a single sentence. A code analysis of version 8.0, according to Android Authority, shows that the Ask Photos assistant will get tools for bulk deletion, archiving, and other batch operations. Google has not yet officially announced these changes.
What the Google Photos app code revealed
Ask Photos can already find specific shots based on a description written in everyday language. But new text strings are now appearing that anticipate the assistant being able to act directly on the photos it finds. The code includes items such as "Delete all," "Archive all," "Share all," "Save all," or a general "Apply to all."
According to Nerdschalk, this is the same direction Google has been heading in for some time. Android Authority nevertheless notes that the strings found do not reveal how many photos can be selected at once. A limit exists, but the exact number is missing from the code.
Bulk deletion without surprises
Deletion is an essential function for any gallery, and according to the analysis, Ask Photos could devote a separate process to it. Instead of a vague confirmation, it should show the user how many items it is about to remove and how much storage space will be freed up. A "Review" option for checking the selected shots is also being added.
Elements such as "Looks good," "Edit selection," and "Continue" are also expected to be available. These suggest that the assistant will not do anything on its own: it will first show what it has selected and what it plans to do, and only after the user confirms will it take action. Android Authority reports the same behavior from its own testing, where Ask Photos paused before saving or creating and waited for approval.
Once completed, the user should receive confirmation of how many photos were deleted and a reminder that they are in the trash, from where they can potentially be restored. The code also contains references to the "Free up space" section and to the storage manager.
Editing multiple photos at once
According to Android Authority, bulk actions may not be limited to cleanup. When the editorial team asked Ask Photos to find two photos of a dog and enhance them, the assistant edited both at once and offered to save all of them as well as to select only the successful ones. This is consistent with the proposed prompts, such as "Enhance photos" in the plural. Until now, Google Photos did not allow editing multiple photos simultaneously, so this feature would fill a long-standing gap.
What comes next
Nerdschalk also mentions a new input field label, "Search or start a task," and support for creating calendar events. These details come from only one source. Likewise, it is not yet certain whether and when the features will reach users, because Google has not confirmed any of them.