What you need to know
In a significant enhancement to its Google Photos app, the company has unveiled an upgrade to its photo-to-video feature, now leveraging the advanced capabilities of the Veo 3 video generation model. This update promises to elevate the quality of the short clips users can create from their still images.
- The new Veo 3 model allows users to transform their photos into six-second video clips with improved quality.
- A newly introduced Create tab in the Photos app provides access to an array of creative tools, including the Veo 3 feature.
- This Create tab also encompasses additional functionalities such as Remix, Highlight videos, collages, and animations.
As of September 4, Google has been gradually integrating its AI models into various applications, including Google Photos, following the trend set by its Workspace tools like Gmail and Drive. The photo-to-video capability, which debuted just over a month ago, now benefits from the enhanced performance of Veo 3, replacing the previous Veo 2 model.
With this upgrade, users can expect even higher-quality clips when converting their still images into dynamic video snippets. The feature is particularly appealing for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers who seek to enhance their creative output.
Beyond the photo-to-video transformation, the Create tab introduces exciting features such as Remix, which allows users to convert their images into various artistic styles, including anime, comic, sketch, or 3D animations. Additionally, the Highlight videos feature enables users to generate clips centered around specific themes, such as “Mom” or “Paris,” automatically selecting relevant photos and videos, adding music, and crafting a cohesive video experience.
Other creative options, including collages, Cinematic photos, and animations, will also be housed within the Create tab, further enriching the user experience.
Currently, the new Create tab and the photo-to-video feature powered by Veo 3 are available to users in the United States. While there is no official timeline for a global rollout, anticipation suggests that these features may soon reach users in other regions.
