Google announces Veo 2 video generation model, expanding VideoFX access

Google today announced Veo 2, as well as updates to Imagen 3 and a new Whisk experiment that showcases the latest model and Gemini.

Google announced Veo in May at I/O 2024, and the follow-up model features “improved understanding of real-world physics and the nuances of human movement and expression” to improve overall detail and realism. 

Meanwhile, your prompt can specify a genre, lens, and cinematic effect. For example: 

• …low-angle tracking shot that glides through the middle of a scene
• …close-up shot on the face of a scientist looking through her microscope
• Suggest “18mm lens” in your prompt and Veo 2 knows to craft the wide angle shot that this lens is known for…
• …blur out the background and focus on your subject by putting “shallow depth of field” in your prompt

Veo 2 also hallucinates “less frequently” and there’s the invisible SynthID watermark.

Google is rolling out Veo 2 to VideoFX (in Google Labs) and “expanding the number of users who can access it,” but there is still a waitlist. It will come to “YouTube Shorts and other products next year.”

We have been intentionally measured in growing Veo’s availability, so we can help identify, understand and improve the model’s quality and safety while slowly rolling it out via VideoFX, YouTube and Vertex AI.

The camera floats gently through rows of pastel-painted wooden beehives, buzzing honeybees gliding in and out of frame. The motion settles on the refined farmer standing at the center, his pristine white beekeeping suit gleaming in the golden afternoon light. He lifts a jar of honey, tilting it slightly to catch the light. Behind him, tall sunflowers sway rhythmically in the breeze, their petals glowing in the warm sunlight. The camera tilts upward to reveal a retro farmhouse with mint-green shutters, its walls dappled with shadows from swaying trees. Shot with a 35mm lens on Kodak Portra 400 film, the golden light creates rich textures on the farmer’s gloves, marmalade jar, and weathered wood of the beehives.

This medium shot, with a shallow depth of field, portrays a cute cartoon girl with wavy brown hair, sitting upright in a 1980s kitchen. Her hair is medium length and wavy. She has a small, slightly upturned nose, and small, rounded ears. She is very animated and excited as she talks to the camera.

A low-angle shot captures a flock of pink flamingos gracefully wading in a lush, tranquil lagoon. The vibrant pink of their plumage contrasts beautifully with the verdant green of the surrounding vegetation and the crystal-clear turquoise water. Sunlight glints off the water’s surface, creating shimmering reflections that dance on the flamingos’ feathers. The birds’ elegant, curved necks are submerged as they walk through the shallow water, their movements creating gentle ripples that spread across the lagoon. The composition emphasizes the serenity and natural beauty of the scene, highlighting the delicate balance of the ecosystem and the inherent grace of these magnificent birds. The soft, diffused light of early morning bathes the entire scene in a warm, ethereal glow.

A cinematic shot captures a fluffy Cockapoo, perched atop a vibrant pink flamingo float, in a sun-drenched Los Angeles swimming pool. The crystal-clear water sparkles under the bright California sun, reflecting the playful scene. The Cockapoo’s fur, a soft blend of white and apricot, is highlighted by the golden sunlight, its floppy ears gently swaying in the breeze. Its happy expression and wagging tail convey pure joy and summer bliss. The vibrant pink flamingo adds a whimsical touch, creating a picture-perfect image of carefree fun in the LA sunshine.

You can find more examples here.

Google today also announced an improved Imagen 3 model. Images are brighter, better composed, and feature “richer details and textures,” with the ability to “render more diverse art styles with greater accuracy.” 

This latest model is rolling out globally to ImageFX. 

Finally, Google Labs has a new “Whisk” experiment that “lets you prompt with images.” It’s meant to showcase the updated Imagen 3 and Gemini’s visual understanding/description capabilities.

Whisk lets you input images for the subject, one for the scene and another image for the style. Then, you can remix them to create something uniquely your own, from a digital plushie to an enamel pin or sticker.