Google is adding new artificial intelligence features to Google Photos and YouTube Shorts that allow users to turn their photos into videos. These tools are similar to the Veo 3-powered photo-to-video capabilities that were added to the Gemini app earlier this month, but they work on Google’s older Veo 2 video model and have more limitations.
The photo-to-video AI in Google Photos is limited to creating six-second clips, while the YouTube Shorts version allows users to choose how long a clip to generate. However, unlike Gemini or the Veo 2 itself, neither tool allows users to enter their own cues to guide the results. Instead, users can only choose from a list of suggested hints, such as “Subtle movements” or “I got lucky” in Google Photos.
The feature is launching today in the U.S. for Google Photos on Android and iOS devices, and over the next week for YouTube Shorts users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Remix tool for Google Photos will also be available for Android and iOS users in the US over the next few weeks. This tool transforms photos into a different style, including anime, comics, sketches, and 3D animation. The photo-to-video and remix tools will be located on the new Create tab in the Photos app, which will be launched in the U.S. next month. The Create tab places the tools alongside other creative features, such as collages, video highlighting, and more, so they’re all in one place and easier to find.
Google warns users that the Remix and Photo Video features are “experimental” and may not produce accurate results. You can raise or lower your thumbs on the images and videos you create to provide feedback that Google can use to improve the tools in the future. All videos and photos you create will include an invisible Google SynthID digital watermark. Videos created in Photos will also have a visible watermark, making them easier to identify as AI-generated at a glance.
The YouTube Shorts camera is also getting new generative AI effects that can create images based on drawings and apply video effects to selfies that duplicate the user or make it look like they’re swimming underwater. YouTube is making these effects and other generative AI tools easier for Shorts users with a new AI Playground hub that users can access by clicking the glitter icon in the top right corner while creating a video. AI Playground is already available to Shorts users in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand “to start,” according to Google.
This update complements the generative AI capabilities of Google Photos, which have long been ahead of anything Apple offers in its iOS Photos app. However, the two companies have different approaches: while Google lets your imagination run wild (sometimes to dangerous limits), Apple’s Image Playground tool doesn’t generate photo-realistic images to alleviate concerns about things like deep fakes and misinformation.
