Google is expanding its range of artificial intelligence tools by bringing its latest video generation model, VEO 3, to Google Photos, allowing users to convert still images into short video clips.
The new features are deployed in the App Creation tab, placing one of Google's most widely used consumer products as a showcase for the most advanced AI models.
Google Photos already supports video generation through the Photo to Video feature, but that feature relies on the older Veo 2. The company says that Veo 3 will deliver remarkably high quality videos, representing step changes in realism and detail. It also highlights how Google can leverage 1.5 billion monthly active users with photos (as of May 2025) to deliver cutting-edge AI work directly to consumers. This is a way to mainstream innovations that were only introduced in premium AI services.
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The road to Google Photos in VEO 3
Google first introduced VEO 3 at the I/O Developer Conference in May, highlighting the new capabilities of the model that generates video directly from still images. In July it was made available through the Gemini app for subscribers to AI Ultra and AI Pro plans, with a limit of three videos per day. These videos come with both visible and invisible watermarks, making it clear that they are being generated by AI.
With integration into Google Photos, Veo 3 will be accessible to more audiences. This feature will remain free for a limited generation, but payments for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers are allowed for more usage. However, unlike some of Google's other creative tools, the VEO 3 in the photo does not support audio and the video is capped in 4 seconds.
How it works in a photo
The new tool is located within Create Hub, a redesigned section of the Google Photos app that groups AI-driven creative tools together. Along with the VEO 3, the hub offers:
- Remix tool for taking photos
- Creating collages and montages
- “Cinematic” 3D style moving photos
- Generate GIFs from Static Images
Previous video generation options for photos with Veo 2 allow users to select images from the gallery and select surprise animations via the “Subtle Movement” or “I'm Feeling Lucky” buttons. The model generates a 6-second clip to share. VEO 3 enhances this by replacing it with a more realistic visual, but the 4-second clip is slightly shorter.
A broader strategy for AI races
The rollout shows that Google is weaving sophisticated AI into products that billions of users already rely on. The company once integrated features such as smart photo search and automatic collage creation to make photos essential, new video features mark the latest attempts to maintain pace and distinguish them from rivals like Openai and Microsoft, who are rapidly pushing consumer-oriented AI tools.
AI-driven image and video generation is currently dominated by agile startups like Runway and Pika Labs, but Google's ability to drop Veo 3 into a single photo shows how existing people can leverage scale to rebuild the market.
Despite much of the underlying research, for Google, facing criticism of moving too slowly in the AI boom, photography represents a proven foundation. AI is not abstract, it directly animates the user's own memory. If successful, it could mark a turning point in how daily consumers engage with generated videos, bolstering Google's ambitions at once, risking to hand over them to small rivals.
