Earlier this year, Google announced a new AI-powered video creation app within the Google Workspace suite. Dubbed Google Vids, this tool is designed to assist users in quickly creating internal video content, resulting in a product that can be described as a PowerPoint presentation on steroids. At the time of the announcement, Google mentioned that testing would begin in June. True to their word, the app is now live and fully functional, as keen-eyed Workspace Labs users have recently discovered (h/t Artem Russakovskii).
Google Vids allows users to start a video project from scratch, but its standout feature is the Gemini AI integration that handles much of the heavy lifting. The AI can create slides, write scripts, find relevant stock footage from Shutterstock, and storyboard the entire video. After the AI generates the initial content, users can further refine their videos by adding or removing elements such as slides, text fields, images, and recordings. The final product can then be exported as an MP4 file.
In contrast to Google Docs, where the AI-powered “Help me Write” feature is tucked away, Google Vids places the Gemini prompt front and center. When starting a new project, users are greeted with a text field where they can describe the video’s themes or goals in a few sentences. Additionally, users can instruct the AI to utilize documents from their Google Drive. For those who prefer not to use AI assistance, the option to start with one of the pre-existing templates is also available.
For example, consider a video produced using the prompt “Inform our employees about the latest findings on the benefits of video games. Highlight how video games can improve cognitive functions, problem-solving skills, and social interaction.” The AI-generated content, though basic at the moment, showcases the potential of the app. It’s not a completely automated experience yet, but improvements are expected in the coming weeks before Google Vids rolls out to paying Google Workspace users. Notably, the AI-powered voiceover feature demonstrated by Google in April was not present in this release.
Despite its current limitations, Google Vids offers a promising tool for creating short, utilitarian videos for school or work. The experience is reminiscent of iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, with some added features. Thanks to the Gemini integration, the process of creating these videos is streamlined and efficient.
For those eager to try out Google Vids, signing up for access to Workspace Labs provides an opportunity to test the app for free ahead of its public launch. While the app is still in development, early access users can expect to see significant enhancements as Google continues to refine and expand its capabilities.
