Google is testing a powerful new feature in its Gemini AI: image markup tools. This allows users to draw on images—highlighting areas or objects—to guide Gemini’s attention for faster, clearer, and more accurate responses. By giving AI precise visual cues, Google aims to improve efficiency, accuracy, and usability across tasks in education, productivity, retail, and more.
How Gemini’s Markup Tool Works
In the latest Google app build, users can select an image from the gallery or camera and draw circles, underlines, or highlights over areas of interest. Gemini can then analyze only those regions. For example, you could:
Ask Gemini to “interpret just this label”
Compare two logos on a shelf
Find damage in a specific corner of a product image
Early evidence suggests multiple highlight colors and modes, allowing multi-step queries. You could mark a chart in green for one task, then highlight another area in blue for a separate analysis.
Why Region-Based Prompts Matter
Visual cues reduce ambiguity, improving AI understanding. Instead of saying “that thing on the left,” precise markings show Gemini exactly where to focus. This approach enhances object recognition, caption accuracy, and visual question answering.
Gemini 1.5 supports massive context windows, but narrowing focus with markup reduces computational load, improves speed, and increases efficiency.
On-Device Editing and Smart Task Routing
The interface hints at advanced editing capabilities. Internal names like “Nano” and “Banana” suggest Gemini can handle light edits locally and heavier tasks in the cloud. This is similar to Pixel’s Magic Eraser or Audio Magic Eraser but integrated into the AI workflow. Users could remove backgrounds, crop images, or refine screenshots efficiently.
Real-World Applications
The tool has practical use across industries:
Education: Highlight a chart axis to summarize trends.
Retail: Extract text or labels from product images without distractions.
Customer Support: Circle error messages in screenshots for faster issue resolution.
Medical & Insurance: Mark sensitive regions for review while maintaining privacy.
Competitive Edge
Other AI tools from OpenAI and Microsoft already offer image selection for queries. Gemini’s advantage lies in Google’s ecosystem: integrated Android markup tools, Google Photos editing stack, and seamless Google app integration.
Things to Watch
As a pre-release feature, the interface may change. Color coding could be refined for step ordering or category labeling. The rollout might prioritize devices with stronger on-device AI capabilities.
Google’s Gemini image markup feature could transform visual AI interactions, making the assistant more precise and efficient. By combining intuitive markup with powerful AI, users can expect faster, more accurate results, helping teams, students, and professionals get more done with less confusion.
