Google Messages turns chat photos into action figures

Google Messages just started rolling out Remix, a new feature that brings generative photo editing straight into your text threads.

Back-and-forth edits in the chat

Powered by Google's Gemini image model called Nano Banana, Remix lets you transform photos without jumping into another app. Users can long-press any photo in a conversation or pick one from their gallery to start editing.

Google says you can use it for practical restyling like redesigning a room, or purely for fun, such as giving a friend a new hairstyle or turning a puppy into an action figure. Recipients can view the results regardless of what device they carry. If both participants use Google Messages, they can even remix the same photo back and forth directly in the app. The rollout began in November 2025, requires users to be 18 or older, and is exclusive to Android.

Why it matters

We think baking image models directly into standard messaging is far smarter than building standalone AI playgrounds. It turns generative tools into instant social currency, lowering the barrier so users can playfully edit pictures inside everyday conversations.

It also shows Google leveraging core Android apps to normalize Gemini across its ecosystem. However, keeping the interactive back-and-forth remixing locked to Google Messages limits its broader appeal, leaving users on other platforms merely watching the results from the outside.