Google Expands Flow AI Video Tool with Advanced Lighting, Audio and Editing Features
Key Points
- Flow now includes controls for adjusting shadows and lighting in AI‑generated videos.
- Audio can be added using “Ingredients to Video” (three reference images) or “Frames to Video” (image transition).
- The “Scene Extension” feature can lengthen the final second of a clip by up to a minute with generated footage and sound.
- Future updates will allow removal of any object from a video, with automatic background reconstruction.
- Veo 3.1 is priced the same as Veo 3 and is available through a paid preview of the Gemini API.
- The upgrades aim to make AI‑generated videos look more realistic and easier to edit.
Google announced upgrades to its Flow AI video‑generation tool, adding new controls for shadows and lighting, expanded audio capabilities, and a feature that can extend or remove elements from a clip. The enhancements are tied to the Veo 3.1 update, available through a paid preview of the Gemini API. Users can now create videos using “Ingredients to Video,” bridge images with “Frames to Video,” and lengthen scenes with “Scene Extension,” all with generated audio. The updates aim to make AI‑generated videos look more realistic and easier to edit.
Enhanced Visual Editing in Flow
Google revealed that its Flow AI video‑filmmaking tool now lets users adjust shadows and lighting within generated videos. This visual editing capability is part of the Veo 3.1 update, which Google says improves how the system translates prompt images into video. The new controls enable creators to fine‑tune the illumination of scenes, making the output appear more natural and less obviously synthetic.
New Audio Generation Features
Alongside visual upgrades, Flow introduces several audio‑related functions. Users can generate a video with accompanying sound by providing three reference images, a method Google calls “Ingredients to Video.” Another option, “Frames to Video,” creates a clip that transitions between a starting image and an ending image while adding audio. These tools broaden the creative possibilities for developers and artists working with AI‑generated media.
Scene Extension and Object Removal
The “Scene Extension” feature allows the final second of a clip to be expanded with up to a minute of additional generated footage, complete with audio. Additionally, Google announced that Flow will soon enable users to remove any element from a video. The system restructures the background and scene, making it appear as though the removed object was never present.
Availability and Pricing
Veo 3.1 is offered at the same price as its predecessor, Veo 3, and is accessible through a paid preview of the Gemini API for developers. The update is also enabled within the Gemini app, providing a seamless path for existing users to adopt the new capabilities.
Implications for AI‑Generated Content
These enhancements position Flow as a more versatile tool for creating realistic AI‑generated videos. By adding granular lighting controls, audio generation, and advanced editing functions, Google aims to reduce the visual gap between AI‑produced content and traditional media, while also giving creators greater flexibility to shape their narratives.