Google Photos Prepares Major AI Video Tool Upgrade
Google Photos has been steadily transforming from a simple storage app into a powerful creative suite, thanks to a series of AI-powered updates. One notable feature is its ability to animate still images into brief videos, a tool that recently received a significant boost from the advanced Veo 3 video generation model. Now, it appears Google is preparing to give users even more creative freedom with this tool.
A New Level of Customization on the Horizon
According to a recent discovery by Android Authority within the code of Google Photos version 6.48, a major upgrade may be in development. The analysis uncovered a text prompt box for the "Photo to video" feature, suggesting users will soon be able to type descriptions to guide the AI in generating video clips from their static photos.
Credit: Android Authority
Beyond "I'm Feeling Lucky"
Currently, the tool offers limited control with just two options: "Subtle movements" and the unpredictable "I'm feeling lucky." While these can produce interesting results, they lack precision. The introduction of a prompt box would be a transformative change, allowing users to specify exact actions, moods, or effects, turning a simple animation tool into a sophisticated creative engine. Instead of just hoping for a good result, you could instruct the AI to "make the clouds move slowly across the sky" or "create a gentle zoom-in effect on the main subject."
Availability and Potential Limits
Since this feature was found in a pre-release version of the app, there is no official timeline for its launch, and its final form could change. It is also likely that its usage will be subject to certain limitations. Google currently offers a set number of free AI generations per day, with increased caps for subscribers to its Google AI Pro or Ultra plans. The specifics of these limits, as noted on Google's support page, remain undefined.
Prospective users outside the US should also be aware that Google's advanced generative AI tools in Photos, including Photo to video and Remix, are currently exclusive to the United States. It's plausible that this new prompt-based functionality will follow a similar region-locked rollout when it is eventually released.
