Google is fulfilling its recent promises to enhance its photo and video products with more generative AI features. YouTube is the first platform to roll out the first wave of generative AI video for YouTube Shorts. Even if you’re not a YouTuber, you’ll soon encounter more AI videos. Google Photos, integrated with virtually every Android phone, is also gaining AI video-generation capabilities. However, these features are currently based on the older Veo 2 model, not the more advanced Veo 3 model that has been widely discussed since its announcement at I/O in May.
Earlier this summer, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan confirmed the company’s plan to integrate generative AI into the creator tools for YouTube Shorts. While there were already tools to generate video backgrounds, the next phase will involve creating new video elements from text prompts.
Starting today, creators will have the option to use a photo as the foundation for a new generative AI video. Additionally, YouTube promises to provide a collection of easily applied generative effects that will be accessible from the Shorts camera. Furthermore, the company has established a new AI playground hub that will serve as the central location for all its AI tools. This hub will also include examples and suggested prompts to assist users in generating AI content.
Transform photos into videos
To date, all YouTube AI video features are currently operational on the Veo 2 model. The organization intends to transition to the Veo 3 model later this summer. The AI features in YouTube Shorts are currently restricted to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, but their availability will be expanded to additional countries in the near future.
Bring your photographs to life with Photo to Video, an innovative feature that transforms a single image from your camera roll into a captivating video. Simply select your desired image, choose a creative suggestion, and witness your cherished memories come to life. For instance, Photo to Video empowers you to imbue landscape photographs with movement, animate ordinary images, and breathe new life into group photographs. This exciting feature is currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and will be expanding to more regions later this year.
Play with new effects
Google Photos is introducing new generative AI features, but they are currently limited in scope. Starting today, users in the US will begin seeing a similar set of features. Similar to YouTube, the app will now allow users to transform their photos into short videos, utilizing the older Veo 2 model. Users have two options for these animations: “Subtle movements” or “I’m feeling lucky.” In the coming weeks, Photos will also introduce “Remix,” a collection of styles that users can quickly select and apply to their images.
Embark on an immersive journey of continuously evolving effects. Our latest generative effects possess the ability to dynamically transform your doodles into captivating images and transform your selfies into distinctive videos, offering a range of options such as swimming underwater, twinning with a lookalike sibling, and more. Discover these and other effects by navigating to the Effects icon located within the Shorts camera and selecting AI to access a comprehensive collection of generative effects. We anticipate expanding our reach to more creators globally in the upcoming weeks.
Photo to video and generative effects are powered by Veo 2, and we are delighted to announce the imminent launch of Veo 3 on YouTube Shorts later this summer.
Additionally, Google Photos is introducing a photo to video feature, further enriching our suite of similar tools, which also includes Gemini.
YouTube Shorts is getting the AI playground, while Photos is getting the Create tab. This new tab will serve a similar function, listing all the generative AI tools available in the app. It will be prominently displayed in the bottom navigation bar, making it easier for users to access and utilize these tools. The Create tab will begin rolling out in August, but it’s currently only available in the US.
In addition to the Create tab, Google is emphasizing its commitment to using its SynthID digital watermarking technology on all AI-generated images and videos. This technology aims to make it harder for users to pass off AI content as authentic. While this may not be a significant concern for videos based on the Veo 2 platform, the improved capabilities of the Veo 3 platform raise concerns. Google also acknowledges that it conducts ongoing safety analysis to prevent misuse of its AI video models, but it acknowledges that determined trolls can still find ways to bypass these measures.
Explore Google’s latest creation tools in the AI playground.
The AI Playground is your comprehensive hub for creative expression. Within its confines, you will discover our latest generation of AI creation tools, a curated gallery of inspiring examples, and pre-populated prompts that will empower you to generate videos, images, music, and more with unparalleled ease. To access the AI Playground, simply tap the “Create” button and subsequently the “Sparkle” icon located in the upper right corner of the screen.