On Thursday, Google introduced new features to its Vids video editor app, which now includes directing and customizing avatars through text prompts, Veo 3.1 support, the ability to export videos to YouTube, and recording via a Chrome extension.
Users can direct avatars to perform in scenes using natural language prompts. This includes interactions with products, props, or equipment, all while maintaining character consistency despite the dynamic output.
Based on the video’s theme, users can customize characters by adjusting appearance, changing outfits, and creating new backgrounds using prompts.
Last month, Google’s addition of the Lyria 3 and Lyria 3 Pro music creation models to Vids allowed users to add sound effects or music to their clips. With this update, Google is implementing the Veo 3.1 video-generation model, enabling the creation of eight-second clips within the video editing tool. Users receive 10 free generations monthly, with Google AI Ultra and Workspace AI Ultra accounts offered up to 1,000 Veo videos monthly.
Additionally, Google is allowing direct export of finished videos to YouTube, eliminating the need for downloading and uploading. By default, all exported videos are private, allowing for review before becoming public.
Google is also introducing a new screen-recording Chrome extension within the video suite, enabling users to capture the screen with audio or video.
Since unveiling the product in 2024 for enterprise content creation, Google has continuously enhanced Vids. Last year, AI avatars were added, and access expanded to consumers. In February, 2D and 3D cartoon-style avatars, along with language support for seven new voice-over languages including French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese, were introduced.
Google Vids competes with companies like Synthesia, HeyGen, D-ID, and Lemon Slice.