Google Photos Debuts AI Tools for Video Generation and Photo Remixing
Google Photos is set to revolutionise how users interact with their cherished memories, introducing a suite of new AI-powered creative tools that transform static images into dynamic videos and stylised artwork. These features, including Photo to video and Remix, aim to bring a new dimension of creativity to the popular photo storage and management platform.
Bring Your Photos to Life with Photo to Video
Building on the success of video generation tools across other Google products, Google Photos is now rolling out a similar Photo to video capability, powered by Veo 2. This feature allows users to convert still photos into short, six-second video clips with subtle movements.
Users can simply select a picture from their gallery and choose between two prompts: “Subtle movements” or “I’m feeling lucky.” This will animate the photo, turning a static moment into a dynamic, shareable video. For instance, a classic selfie with friends can come to life with nuanced motion, or a treasured childhood photo of a parent can subtly smile back. The Photo to video feature began rolling out on 23 July, in the U.S. on both Android and iOS devices.
“Remix” Your Photos with Artistic Transformations
Google Photos is also introducing “Remix,” an innovative tool that lets users transform their pictures into various fun art styles. Ever wondered what you, your friends, family, or even pets would look like as an anime character, a comic book illustration, a sketch, or a 3D animation? Remix makes this possible in seconds. Users can select a photo and choose their favourite style to instantly generate these artistic renditions, ready to be shared with others.
The Remix feature is scheduled to begin rolling out in the U.S. on Android and iOS devices in the coming weeks.
Explore the New Create Tab: Your Hub for Creativity
To streamline the creative process and make these new tools easily accessible, Google Photos is launching a dedicated Create tab within the app. This new hub will bring together all creative features, including Photo to video, Remix, collages, highlight videos, and more, into one centralised location. This ensures users can effortlessly find and utilise the tools they desire, fostering a more intuitive and enjoyable creative experience.
The Create tab is expected to start rolling out in the U.S. in August.
Commitment to Responsible AI and Transparency
All videos and photos generated using Photo to video and Remix will incorporate an invisible SynthID digital watermark. Additionally, videos generated in Photos will feature a visual watermark, similar to those seen on videos created with Gemini, for added transparency.
The company has implemented extensive “red teaming” and thorough evaluations to proactively identify and address potential issues and prevent misuse of these experimental features. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” buttons on generated images and videos, which will help Google make ongoing improvements to safety measures and the overall user experience.
