Google Focuses on Vertical AI Video with New Veo 3.1 Feature

Illustration of Google's AI video creation tool Femini, Veo 3.1. (photo: x @sundarpichai)

Google is getting more serious about working on the vertical video trend based on artificial intelligence by releasing the latest update on its AI video creation tool, Veo 3.1. This update introduces the "Ingredients to Video" feature, which is now able to produce vertical AI videos natively using portrait images.

With the 9:16 ratio support, Veo 3.1 allows users to create vertical videos without having to cut or re-adjust the video before uploading it to social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook.

This update also brings improvements to character identity consistency, story flow, and scene transitions. In addition, features for increasing resolution to 1080p and 4K are also included, complete with an AI content transparency system.

Vertical short video format is currently one of the most popular types of content on various social media platforms. Google is aware of this trend and through Veo 3.1, the company wants to make it easier for creators to produce AI content that is directly in line with the needs of digital platforms.

In a post on its official blog, The Keyword, Google explained that the Ingredients to Video feature now supports the 9:16 aspect ratio natively. Users simply insert several portrait images, then Veo will produce a dynamic and expressive vertical video without sacrificing composition or visual detail.

For the first time, the feature can also generate full-screen portrait videos by default. This eliminates the need to crop and resize videos to fit the social media's vertical canvas.

Google says this update is designed to deliver more natural movement, richer storytelling, and smoother scene flow, even when the commands or prompts given are relatively short.

In addition, consistency of identity is the main focus in the Veo 3.1 update. Google states that the generated characters are still easy to recognize in various scenes, even though the location changes. The generated video is also able to maintain consistency of background, objects, and textures throughout the clip, so that the visual narrative remains intact and uninterrupted.

With this update, Google is strengthening its position in the competition for AI video creation tools, as well as targeting content creators who want to produce high-quality vertical videos quickly and efficiently.