Google is significantly upgrading its Google Vids video creation tool, rolling out a suite of powerful generative AI features on Wednesday aimed at democratizing video production for businesses and consumers alike. The update introduces AI-powered avatars, automatic transcript trimming, and an image-to-video generator.
In a parallel move to attract a wider audience, Google also launched a free, basic version of Vids for all consumers. This dual strategy aims to lower the barrier to entry for professional content creation while building a broader user base. The platform has already surpassed one million monthly active users.
AI Avatars and Automated Editing Arrive in Vids
The headline feature is the introduction of AI avatars, which are now generally available after being first announced at Google I/O in May. This tool directly addresses a common barrier for businesses: the cost and complexity of live-action video production. Users can simply write a script and select from a diverse library of pre-designed personas and voices to deliver their message.
The feature is explicitly designed for corporate use cases like employee training modules, product demonstrations, and onboarding videos, allowing teams to create polished content without needing on-camera talent or expensive recording equipment.
To help users who do record themselves, Vids now includes an automatic transcript trimming feature aimed at polishing raw footage with minimal effort. The AI identifies filler words like “um” and “ah,” as well as awkward pauses, allowing creators to remove them from the final video with just a few clicks.
According to Google, this function helps users “look and sound their best with fewer takes” by eliminating the need for tedious manual editing. This is part of a broader push to improve audio quality, with Google also pre-announcing upcoming features like noise cancellation and Google Meet-style filters.
Furthermore, Google is integrating its powerful Veo 3 model to enable image-to-video generation. This allows users to upload a static image, such as a product shot or company stock photography, and use a text prompt to create a dynamic, eight-second video clip complete with synchronized, native audio.
This capability builds on Veo’s earlier integration for text-to-video tasks and underscores the model’s sophisticated handling of motion and sound. The advancement reflects the vision articulated by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis at Veo’s launch, when he declared, “we’re emerging from the silent era of video generation.”
Vids for Everyone: A New Free Tier and Premium Access
Alongside the premium AI features, Google has released a free version of the Vids editor for all consumers. This basic tier provides access to core editing controls, a library of templates, and Google’s collection of stock media. Crucially, it does not include the new generative AI capabilities, serving as an on-ramp to the paid ecosystem.
Access to the advanced AI tools is reserved for paying customers. This includes subscribers to the $19.99/month Google AI Pro plan or the premium AI Ultra tier, as well as users on specific Workspace plans. This tiered approach mirrors Google’s broader strategy for monetizing its AI innovations and building a recu