Google adds its photo-to-video tech to YouTube Shorts

Google has been putting more AI tools in just about all of its services, and two more are getting the treatment. First up, Google Photos is adding some new AI-powered creation features. Starting today, the platform will support a photo-to-video option that can generate a six-second clip from a still image in your library. The capability is powered by Google's Veo 2 engine, and users will be able to select either "Subtle movements" or "I'm feeling lucky" as the prompt for their video. Google Photos is also getting a Remix feature that recreates images in other artistic styles, such as anime, comics, sketches, or 3D animation. Remix will begin rolling out in the coming weeks for US users on both Android and iOS. These tools will eventually be housed in a new Create tab that's due to start rolling out within the Google Photos platform in the US in August.

YouTube Shorts will also add a photo-to-video capability. This is a free feature that will arrive over the next week in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. More markets will receive the option later this year. The company noted that, like with Google Photos, the tool is powered by Veo 2, although Veo 3 support is slated to arrive in YouTube Shorts later this summer. Veo 2 also drives the new generative effects tool for the short-form videos.

Google introduced a photo-to-video option to its Gemini app earlier this month, although using the tool there requires a subscription.