Google has announced a new suite of creative, AI-powered tools for Google Photos, aiming to reshape how users interact with their saved memories.
The service's vast user base of over 1.5 billion people can now animate their still photos into short video clips or reimagine them in a variety of artistic styles, including anime and comic book effects.
In a recent announcement, Google explained that these additions are part of a broader strategy to integrate AI capabilities into its most popular services. The goal is to place advanced tools directly into the hands of everyday users, many of whom may have yet to experience generative AI firsthand.
From a Still Photo to a Vibrant Video
A standout feature is "Photo to video," which breathes life into static images.
Powered by Google's advanced Veo 2 model, this tool can transform any picture from your gallery into a dynamic, six-second video.
For instance, you could bring a gentle motion to an old selfie with friends or see a cherished childhood photo of your father seemingly smile at you once more.
According to the company, a user can select any photo and choose between two simple prompts: "Subtle movements" or "I'm feeling lucky." The AI then immediately generates a short, shareable video.
This feature has already started rolling out to Android and iOS users in the United States.
Remix Your Photos for an Artistic Touch
Google is also introducing "Remix," another exciting feature that invites users to explore new artistic dimensions within their photos.
Leveraging the Imagen AI model, the tool allows you to select any image from your gallery and instantly convert it into a different artistic style, such as 3D animation, sketches, or even anime and comics.
Google has stated that Remix will become available over the next few weeks for Android and iOS users in the United States.
"Create" Tab Unifies All Creative Tools
To streamline access to both new and existing features, Google announced the launch of a new "Create" tab.
This section is designed to be a centralized hub for all creative functionalities. It will house everything from the new "Photo to video" and "Remix" tools to familiar options like creating collages and highlight videos. The new tab is scheduled to arrive this August in the U.S.
Using AI Tools Responsibly
Google has emphasized the importance of responsibility and transparency in deploying these powerful tools.
For that reason, all images and videos generated with the new features will be marked with an invisible digital watermark (SynthID), the same technology used for other AI-edited images from Google.
Additionally, video clips will include a visible watermark to clearly indicate that the content was generated by AI.
The company noted that these features are still experimental, and some results might not always be perfect.
Therefore, Google is asking for user feedback via rating buttons to help refine the experience and continuously improve safety standards.
