YouTube has announced new generative AI features for its short-form video platform, Shorts. According to the company, these tools aim to make content creation easier and more creative for users. The new features are accessible through a central hub called “AI playground.”
The announcement highlights two main additions:
- Photo to video: This feature allows users to transform a static image from their device’s camera roll into a short video. YouTube states it can animate landscape photos or bring group pictures to life. TechCrunch notes its similarity to existing features in Google’s Gemini and Meta’s Edits app.
- Generative effects: A new set of AI effects can dynamically turn doodles into images or transform selfies into unique videos, such as creating a scene where the user appears to be swimming underwater.
These features are powered by Google’s Veo 2 video generation model. To ensure transparency, YouTube states that all AI-generated content will be marked with SynthID watermarks and clear labels.
The AI playground and the photo-to-video tool are currently rolling out in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A wider international release is planned for later this year. The company also mentioned that its video model Veo 3 is expected to be integrated into Shorts later this summer.
Sources: YouTube Blog, TechCrunch