Google AI Video Tool Debuts First On Honor Phones

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Google's Veo 2 AI Video Generator

Recently, Google unveiled Veo 2, its advanced AI model designed for video generation. This technology currently generates short eight second videos for users subscribed to Gemini Advanced. Subscribers to Google One AI Premium also gain access to Whisk, an image generator enhanced by Veo 2, allowing for the animation of generated images. For now, free users do not have access to these features.

Surprise Launch on Honor Phones

Many might expect Google's own Pixel smartphones to be the first recipients of new features like Veo 2, especially once they become free. Google often follows this pattern, prioritizing its hardware line before wider rollouts. However, Veo 2 is breaking this trend.

In an unexpected move, the first smartphone users gaining free access to the Veo 2 video model are not Pixel owners, but owners of Honor devices—specifically phones not available for purchase in the United States. As reported by The Verge, individuals purchasing an Honor 400 or 400 Pro will enjoy free Veo 2 access via the Gallery app, at least for the initial two months.

A key difference from the Whisk integration is that Honor users can utilize Veo 2 to animate their own photographs, not just AI-generated images.

How Well Does It Work?

The Verge's Dominic Preston tested the feature on a compatible Honor phone. Some results were impressive. An image of musician Grant Nicholas mid-performance was transformed into a short video clip that convincingly depicted him playing, despite some quality loss attributed to GIF conversion for the article.

Preston noted the feature performed well with straightforward subjects, like a pet cat. However, Veo 2 encountered difficulties with more complex scenes. Animating a vintage car resulted in the car rotating strangely without its wheels turning. An attempt to animate a photo of tomatoes introduced a translucent hand picking them up in its initial frames, creating an odd visual.

Limitations and Future Costs

Access is currently capped at 20 video generations per day. According to The Verge's report, Honor indicated that Google plans to eventually introduce a subscription model for the feature, although specific details are not yet available.

Is This Feature Truly Useful?

Even without the daily limits and potential future costs, the practical application of this feature raises questions. While new Honor users might find it entertaining to experiment with animating photos, the inconsistent results might limit its long-term appeal beyond being a novelty or a 'party trick'. It remains unclear who would consistently need a hit-or-miss photo-to-video generator, particularly if it requires payment down the line.

While it's certainly unusual for Google to debut this technology on a non-Pixel phone first, perhaps Pixel users aren't missing out on a game-changing feature just yet.