Google Uses Magic of AI to Let You Insert Yourself Into Other People’s Family Photos

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Among the many standout features of Google’s latest AI-powered Pixel 9 smartphones, the ability to digitally photobomb other people’s family photos in true Michael Scott style may well be the most entertaining.

How “Add Me” Works

As one Daily Mail journalist observed in her hands-on review, the “Add Me” tool is designed to let photographers insert themselves into group shots so they are no longer left out of the frame. The process is simple: one person photographs the group, then another captures the first photographer standing slightly to the side in the same location. The Pixel 9’s AI then merges the two images into a single, supposedly natural scene.

Demo videos demonstrate how the app overlays the original photo in the viewfinder, helping users align their position. However, as the Mail reviewer discovered, real-world results can sometimes resemble an obvious Photoshop edit rather than a seamless composite.

Real-World Test at Kensington Palace

To put the feature through its paces, Mail reporter Shivali Best headed to London’s Kensington Palace and quickly recruited a willing American couple. Because the two source photos were taken minutes apart in changing outdoor light, the final composite revealed clear mismatches in illumination—producing hilariously unconvincing results.

I tested Google's 'Add Me' tool which uses AI to help you gatecrash group photos - with hilarious results https://t.co/1jRY36sZWLpic.twitter.com/oCAi7DOsTf

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 21, 2026

Creative (and Less Serious) Uses

While the intended group-photo use case proved tricky outdoors, many users have embraced a more playful application: creating multiple versions of themselves in one frame. In a TechRadar review, writer Lance Ulanoff explored whether the Gemini-powered feature could generate convincing “clone” selfies—and found it far more effective for these whimsical shots than for traditional group portraits.

A quick scan of conversations on X (formerly Twitter) confirms that Ulanoff is far from alone in discovering this entertaining workaround.

Testing Tech Young ? Here's a look at @madebygoogle's Add Me feature. He still thinks this is the iPhone. pic.twitter.com/I8bDv802wC

— Sean Fenner Jr (@SeanFennerJr) August 23, 2026

Pixel 9 AI in Context

Amid the buzz around the Pixel 9’s other AI capabilities—from in-app photo editing to its advanced chatbot—real-world tests like these provide a welcome dose of perspective. For Android enthusiasts and AI fans alike, however, the mixed results have done little to dampen excitement for the new devices.

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