Google is introducing a free basic version of its AI-driven video editing tool, Vids, which is now accessible to all users. Previously, this application was restricted to subscribers of Google Workspace and its AI plan. According to product director Vishnu Sivaji, this expanded access includes essential features like templates, stock media, and a limited selection of AI functionality, as reported by Technology News.
Vids, which launched last year, is designed to simplify the creation of video presentations. The tool comes equipped with various AI features to assist users in generating storyboards, recommending scenes, and selecting appropriate stock images and background music.
While Sivaji mentioned that the free version of Vids retains “almost all of the incredible features” of the full application, it excludes the latest AI functionalities introduced today. Notably, these features include the ability to utilize AI-generated avatars for delivering messages.
With this new update, users can select from a set of 12 pre-designed avatars, each showcasing unique appearances and voices. However, creating a personalized AI-generated version featuring oneself is not yet an option—a capability currently available through Zoom and favored by many tech leaders. Sivaji noted that there are “no additional updates” regarding this feature at the moment.
Moreover, Google is enhancing the video generation capabilities of Vids by allowing users to create brief 8-second videos that can feature specific images, such as newly launched products. The tool now includes an AI feature that removes filler words and pauses from recorded videos if the user chooses to incorporate their footage into a presentation.
Google aims to leverage these updates to assist businesses in reducing time and costs involved in creating various video content, such as product demonstrations, training resources, and support materials. Sivaji highlighted that producing a ten-minute video with professional actors can take up to six months and cost tens of thousands of dollars, factoring in scriptwriting, studio time, and editing efforts. Customer feedback suggests that Vids will enable a wider range of users to produce these types of videos more frequently.
