What Is Google’s Veo3?

If you’ve been following tech news lately, you may have heard about Google’s new Veo 3. Announced this month at their annual conference, Google showcased its most advanced video generation model to date.

Through Veo 3, people are able to turn text prompts into realistic, human looking videos, complete with full dialogue, background sound and music.

But whilst the Veo 3 turned a lot of heads, it also raised a lot of questions about what this new technology means for the future of video, film and even news.

Here, we talk you through everything you need to know about the Veo 3, including how it works, what it can be used for and why it’s spurring on some bigger conversations.

 

A New Type of AI Video

 

Whilst computer generated videos aren’t exactly a new concept, Veo 3 sets itself apart by being able to generate both video and audio together. That means you can describe a scene in writing and Veo 3 will generate a video that matches it, complete with dialogue, background noise and even ambient music.

This makes it an entirely unique concept, as it is able to generate both sound and image together, rather than having to manually merge the two.

And the results are pretty good too, with many commenting on how lifelike the videos it creates really are, making it hard to tell if the content is real or generated.

 

Why Veo 3 Is Unique?

 

AI-generated video certainly isn’t new, with companies like Open AI and Runway launching their own AI video software.

However the Veo 3 stands out for a few different reasons, including:

• The ability to generate audio alongside video all with a single prompt.
• The AI’s ability to generate videos that abide by physics, making the movements feel even more natural than alternatives.
• High resolution videos for professional and personal use.
• The ability to adjust camera angles, build scenes and even keep characters consistent across newly generated videos.

 

Using AI For Filmmaking Through Flow

 

On May 20th of this year, Google announced its new AI filmmaking tool, Flow – designed to help creatives with the “next wave of storytelling”.

Through Flow, creatives can input prompts, design scenes and edit Veo 3 content, all in one place.

One of the best things about Flow is how simple it is to use. Just describe what you want to bring to life and Flow – powered by Veo 3 – creates it.

It really is that simple!

Through Flow, creators are able to adjust picture angles, save avatars for future use, edit clips and build entire storylines.

 

Part Of Google’s Suite Of AI Products

 

Whilst the Veo 3 is one of the more exciting developments from Google, it doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s designed to work alongside their other AI products, which include:

Gemini – text and language model, allowing Veo 3 to understand and convert text to video.

Imagen 4 – Image generation, creating visual references for Veo 3 video scenes to draw from.

Flow – Google’s video creation platform, designed to help people use Veo 3 to create full-scale stories.

 

 

How Much Does It Cost?

 

Of course, Google hasn’t created Veo 3 out of the goodness of it’s heart. It’s currently only available in the U.S through Google AI Ultra (which costs $249 per month) and Vertex AI.

Subscribers can also pay to use it through Flow credits, with each prompt using up a number of them.

 

Why Is Veo 3 Such Big News?

 

New AI applications are being announced all the time – so why is Veo 3 unique?

Well, Veo 3 has the potential to completely change the way people create and tell stories. It also makes video content creation much easier for those that have no technical video skills.

Ultimately, with Veo 3, you don’t need an actor, a camera, a set or a budget to bring an idea to life – just a well written prompt.

So, what industries could this affect? Well, to name just a few:

• Low budget and indie film making.
• Marketing channels, adverts and branded content.
• News and current affairs reporting.
• Education, bringing lessons and concepts to life in the classroom.

And many more.

 

What Are The Drawbacks Of Veo 3?

 

When it comes to any kind of AI, there’s usually a bigger, ethical conversation to be hard. And Veo 3 is no different.

When it comes to the videos it creates – who owns them? How does this impact copyright law if the content is created by an AI? How do creators protect their ideas?

When it comes to the avatars, what if the AI looks too much like a real person? Do they have any ownership over their likeness? How can we prevent Veo 3 being used to create even more divisive deepfakes to spread fake news online?

And most importantly – does the creation of Veo 3 make human film making defunct? If anyone can prompt the AI to create a human-like video, does professional film making become obsolete? and will video become more about prompting than creative?

As AI film creation becomes more mainstream, it will be interesting to see how regulation and crediting evolve alongside it.

 

Veo 3: Changing The World Of Filmmaking

 

The launch of the Veo 3 is an exciting step in the world of AI video making, but it’s only the beginning.

Through its technology, it’s helping more people tell stories, create new worlds and power creativity.

But that’s not to say it’s without its issues. As the Veo 3 becomes more mainstream, it will be interesting to see how the film sector evolves to account for this new influx of characters, ideas and possibilities.