Google is taking a significant step in the video generation space by making its Veo 2 AI model available to users who subscribe to its premium AI plan, Gemini Advanced. This move comes as the tech giant aims to counter OpenAI's Sora video generation platform and respond to increasing competition in the synthetic media industry.

The Veo 2 model, which can generate eight-second video clips at 720p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio, will be accessible to Gemini Advanced subscribers starting Tuesday. Users can create videos using the model and share them on popular platforms like TikTok and YouTube, or download them as MP4 files watermarked with Google's SynthID technology. However, there is a limit to the number of videos that can be created each month, and Google Workspace business and education plans are not currently supported.

The integration of Veo 2 with Whisk, an experimental feature in Google Labs, is another significant development. Whisk allows users to generate new images using images as prompts with Gemini, and a new feature called Whisk Animate enables the creation of eight-second videos from these generated images. This feature is available to users who subscribe to Google's $20-per-month Google One AI Premium subscription, which grants access to early-stage AI products in Google Labs.

While Google's applications of Veo 2 may seem basic at present, the company has ambitious plans to combine its Gemini AI models with Veo to improve the former's understanding of the physical world. This was revealed by Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, in a recent statement. The potential implications of this technology are vast, and it will be interesting to see how Google develops and refines its video generation capabilities in the future.

However, the rise of video generators like Veo 2 has sparked concerns among artists and creators, who fear that these tools could disrupt entire creative industries. A 2024 study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a union representing Hollywood animators and cartoonists, estimates that over 100,000 U.S.-based film, television, and animation jobs will be impacted by AI by 2026. As the synthetic media space continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these tools will be used and the consequences they will have on the creative workforce.

In the context of the growing competition in the synthetic media space, Google's move to expand access to Veo 2 is a significant one. Runway, a prominent synthetic media company, recently released the fourth generation of its video generator and secured over $300 million in new capital. As the technology continues to advance and more players enter the market, it will be fascinating to see how Google and its competitors shape the future of video generation and synthetic media.

Ultimately, the availability of Veo 2 to Gemini Advanced subscribers marks an important milestone in the development of video generation technology. As Google continues to refine and expand its capabilities, it will be crucial to monitor the implications of this technology on the creative industries and the broader tech landscape.