Google Photos upgrades its image-to-video feature with Veo 3 (techcrunch.com)

Google Photos has integrated Google’s latest video-generation model, Veo 3, into its mobile app’s Create tab, enabling U.S. users to transform still photos into short video clips. This upgrade enhances the existing “Photo to video” feature powered by the older Veo 2 model by producing higher-quality, four-second videos without audio. While the free version offers a limited number of video generations, Google’s AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers gain access to additional creations, continuing the company’s strategy of embedding cutting-edge AI functionalities into consumer products. Veo 3 was initially introduced at Google I/O 2025 and rolled out in the Gemini app with subscription plans that include AI-generated video watermarking, reflecting Google’s emphasis on transparency in AI content creation. The inclusion of Veo 3 in Google Photos not only helps users animate cherished memories or older photos but also broadens the app’s creative toolkit housed in the new Create hub. Alongside video generation, the hub features AI-powered tools such as remixing photo styles, making collages, assembling montages, creating cinematic 3D photos, and generating GIFs, underscoring Google’s commitment to enriching user experiences through advanced AI technologies.