Summary
Google Photos is one of the company’s most popular apps, and it continues to evolve beyond just a storage solution. Now, Google is trying to make it a creative playground, giving you new ways to interact with your pictures and transform them into something new.
Photo to Video
AI-generated videos have become a trendy topic, thanks in part toGoogle’s Veo 3. That same technology is coming to your Google Photos library with a feature called “Photo to Video.” The idea is you can add movement to static photos, creating brand new videos from them.
All you have to do is pick a picture and choose from two prompts: “Subtle movements” or “I’m feeling lucky.” In a matter of seconds, your static photo transforms into a six-second video clip. Whether or not you think the result is creepy uncanny valley is up to you. This feature is rolling out now in the US for both Android and iPhone users.
Remix
Sticking with the AI theme, Google is adding some hardcore generated filters with a feature called “Remix.” You just pick a photo and select your favorite artistic style. The app will transform your picture into something completely different. If you’re lucky, it won’t be a rip-off of an artist’s work. Remix is hitting Android and iPhones in the US in the coming weeks.
New “Create” Tab
If you’re thinking Google Photos is getting kinda crowded with features, you’re not wrong. Google Photos is introducing a new “Create” tab to make it easier to find all these tools. This is your one-stop shop for all creative features, including the new Photo to Video and Remix tools, as well as collages, highlight videos, and more. Look for the “Create” tab to start rolling out in the US next month.
As these AI features become available, Google wants to make sure they’re used responsibly. Both Photo to Video and Remix will include an invisible “SynthID” digital watermark. These features are still experimental, so you might occasionally get a result that’s not quite what you wanted. If that happens, you can use the thumbs up and down buttons to provide feedback.
Using AI to modify existing photos and videos is an interesting topic for discussion. It begs the question, what is the point of a photo or video anyway? Is it to capture a specific moment in time as it was, or to create something from it that never existed? That’s something we all have to think about.
