YouTube announced on Wednesday that shorts creators will have access to new generation AI features, including inter-image AI tools and new AI effects.
Image-to-Video feature allows users to change images from camera roll to 6-second video. Users will see a selection of suggestions related to the uploaded photos. YouTube says that this feature can be used to add movement to landscape photos, animate photos from everyday photos, and realize group photos.
In the example specified on YouTube, this feature turns a static image of a pedestrian signal into a short video, then slowly zooms into a dance version of The Walking Man symbol.
Image credits: YouTube
This feature works similar to products already available on Gemini. Additionally, it is similar to the “Animate” tool, which uses AI to convert static images to video.
The new tools will be rolled out in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand next week. YouTube plans to bring it to more regions later this year. It is worth noting that Google Photos also acquires similar image-to-video tools.
As for new AI effects, creators use them to turn their graffiti into artistic images, turn their selfies into videos of them swimming underwater, and become twins with someone. Users can find these new effects by going to the “Effects” icon on the Shorts Camera and tapping “AI” to browse all the generated effects.
Image credits: YouTube
YouTube points out that the features announced today are powered by Google's AI model, Veo 2, for video generation. YouTube says it uses SynthID watermarks and clear labels to indicate that these works were generated with AI.
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Last month at Cannes Lions 2025, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced that Google's VEO 3 video generator, which can generate both video and audio, will be coming to shorts later this summer. He also shares that shorts average over 200 billion viewing every day.
YouTube announced on Wednesday that AI Playground is a new home for generative AI creation tools, inspirational examples, and pre-filled prompts. Creators can find the AI playground by tapping the Create button and then tapping the sparkle icon in the top right corner. It is currently available to everyone in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.