YouTube Shorts is adding an image-to-video AI tool, new AI effects

YouTube announced on Wednesday that it’s giving Shorts creators access to new generative AI features, including an image-to-video AI tool and new AI effects.

The image to video feature lets users turn a picture from their camera roll into a a six-second video. Users can choose from one of two prompts: “subtle movements” or “I’m feeling lucky.” YouTube says the feature can be used to add movement to landscape photos, animate pictures of everyday photos, or bring group photos to life.

In an example given by YouTube, the feature turns a static image of a pedestrian signal into a short video that slowly zooms into a dancing version of the walking man symbol.

The feature works similarly to an offering already available in Gemini. Plus, it’s similar to the ‘Animate’ tool in Meta’s Edits app, which also uses AI to transform static images into videos.

The new tool is rolling out over the next week in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. YouTube plans to bring it to more regions later this year. It’s worth noting that Google Photos is also getting a similar image-to-video tool.

As for the new AI effects, creators can use them to transform their doodles into artistic images and turn their selfies into videos where they’re swimming underwater, twinning with someone, and more. Users can find these new effects by navigating to the “Effects” icon in the Shorts camera and then tapping “AI” to browse all of the generative effects.

YouTube notes that the features announced today are powered by Veo 2, Google’s AI model for video generation. YouTube says it uses SynthID watermarks and clear labels to indicate that these creations were generated with AI.

Last month at Cannes Lions 2025, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced that Google’s Veo 3 video generator, which can generate both video and audio, will be coming to Shorts later this summer. He also shared that Shorts are now averaging more than 200 billion daily views.

YouTube also announced on Wednesday that AI playground is its new home for generative AI creation tools, inspirational examples, pre-filled prompts, and more. Creators can find AI playground by tapping the create button and then the sparkle icon in the top right corner. It’s available now for everyone in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.