Google Photos has a new feature that lets you «bring your photos to life.» Artificial intelligence turns static images into short, six-second videos with natural movements. This is made possible by the integration of the Veo 2 video model, which Google also uses in YouTube, Gemini, and other products.
Google Photos has a new feature that lets you «bring your photos to life.» Artificial intelligence turns static images into short, six-second videos with natural movements. This is made possible by the integration of the Veo 2 video model, which Google also uses in YouTube, Gemini, and other products.
This is reported by TechRadar. To create a video, just select a photo, and then one of two options: «Subtle movements» or «I’m feeling lucky.» The first adds a slight dynamic, for example, makes the person in the picture move a little, the second is experimental: the result can be unpredictable, like confetti in the air.
The feature is currently available to Android and iOS users in the US. But Google has already announced the next wave of updates, including a Remix tool that will allow you to stylize your photos with anime, comics, 3D graphics, or pencil sketches. Unlike its counterparts, there is no need to write prompts here, everything works directly through the gallery interface.
These capabilities are combined in a new Create section, which will be the center of all AI-based features of the service. It already includes collages, video compilations, and now new generative tools. In the future, Google promises to expand the functionality: from creating multimedia stories to synchronizing video with voice.
To prevent manipulation, all animated images and stylized photos are marked as AI-generated. Google also embeds an invisible SynthID watermark that records the source of generation. The same technology is already used by Gemini and YouTube.
The new update is Google’s attempt to adapt its sophisticated AI tools to the everyday needs of Google Photos' billion-strong audience. And while these are just moving selfies for now, future versions could bring them to life with voiceovers, dialogue, or storylines.
We previously reported on how Google introduced a new virtual clothes-trying feature that lets users see how an item will look on their own body. It’s now available in the US on Search, Google Shopping, and Google Images.
