Google Vids lets users create custom AI avatars for video creation

OpenAI's Sora may have shut down, but Google apparently thinks there's still interest in a tool that lets you star in your own AI videos. On Thursday, the tech giant announced an update to Google Vids that will allow you to create a custom digital avatar that looks and sounds like you based on a selfie and a voice recording you upload. Google said it's bringing its multi-modal AI model Gemini Omni to Vids, letting you create videos using a combination of a written prompt and reference images you upload.

Omni then mixes those inputs together to create the AI video you want. It can also be used to do things like swap out the background or fix the lighting in a video recorded on your phone, or add effects. The updates push Google Vids beyond its original role as an AI-assisted workplace presentation tool to become more of an all-in-one video creation platform.

By making Vids a part of Google Workspace, the company is telegraphing its use as a business tool for things like company updates or training videos, but personalized avatars and conversational edits could put it in closer competition with other AI video startups and tools like HeyGen, Synthesia, Captions, D-ID, and others. Google notes that the new AI avatars will be tied to the account holder's likeness, tied to their Google account, and watermarked invisibly with SynthID. The company also says that access to personal avatars is limited to users in certain regions who are aged 18 or older.

Why this matters: Google's move to integrate custom AI avatars and advanced video editing capabilities into Google Vids signals a deeper push into the AI-powered video creation market. This development could have significant implications for businesses and individuals looking to create customized video content without extensive production expertise. As Google Vids becomes more competitive with other AI video startups, it may force a reevaluation of the role AI plays in video creation and how these tools can be responsibly used.

With the ability to create personalized avatars, users must consider the potential for misuse, such as deepfakes, and the importance of transparent watermarking like SynthID. As the AI video creation space continues to evolve, questions around content ownership, consent, and regulation will likely come to the forefront.