Google Updates Photo to Video with Custom Prompts

Google has unveiled a significant update to its Photo to Video feature in the Google Photos app, allowing users to generate short animated clips from still images using custom text prompts for greater creative control. The enhancement, announced Wednesday and now rolling out to compatible devices, builds on the tool's launch last July and introduces options tailored for users aged 18 and older.

Previously limited to preset animations such as Subtle Movement or I'm Feeling Lucky, the feature now enables individuals to describe specific movements, styles, or effects in a text prompt. For instance, users can request a gentle camera drift, slow zoom, or stylized visual treatment, with the artificial intelligence generating a clip in moments. Google states that the process integrates with the app's Create tab, where users select an image and input their description to animate it into a dynamic video. If users lack inspiration, the interface provides suggested prompts that can be tapped and modified for quick starts.

Refinement is a core aspect of the update. After an initial generation, individuals can edit the prompt wording to adjust the output, iterating until the result aligns...