Google rolled out a key update to Veo 3.1 in January 2026. The new Ingredients to Video feature lets users generate videos from reference images with much better consistency. You can blend characters, objects, textures, and backgrounds while keeping style and details intact across frames. This makes it easier to create dynamic clips that feel natural and match a specific look.
The update also adds native support for vertical 9:16 videos. This targets mobile-first content like YouTube Shorts and TikTok. Veo 3.1 handles vertical generation directly instead of cropping or forcing horizontal formats. On top of that, it offers upscaling to 1080p and 4K for higher-quality output in professional workflows.
These changes build on Veo 3.1’s earlier strengths in photorealism and cinematic polish. Google deploys the update across the Gemini app, YouTube Shorts, Flow, Google Vids, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI. Admins get controls for enterprise use. SynthID watermarks stay embedded to help verify AI-generated content.
In the competitive AI video field, creators test Veo 3.1 against other leading models. Sora 2 from OpenAI stands out for strong narrative understanding and high photorealism with nuanced lighting. Kling 2.6 excels in realistic motion, especially high-speed actions and character consistency from images. Runway Gen 4 focuses on clean, stylized outputs and precise editing tools. Hailuo and others like Wan or Seedance offer solid alternatives for speed or specific effects.
Users often rank these tools based on task. For ads or explainers, Kling and Veo deliver reliable results with good prompt following. Sora 2 handles complex story prompts well. Runway suits design-heavy or iterative work. Many creators switch between them depending on needs like realism, control, or cost.
Google’s focus on reference-based generation and vertical support gives Veo an edge for short-form social content. The 4K upscaling helps push toward production-ready clips, though base output starts at lower resolutions in some apps. This update keeps Google strong in the generative video race.
OpenAI supports its video efforts with business growth. Annualized revenue passed $20 billion in 2025, fueled by ChatGPT subscriptions and API use. The company launched ChatGPT Go at $8 per month worldwide and plans ads tests on free and Go tiers in the U.S. These steps fund further advances in models like Sora.
Anthropic pushes agentic features with Cowork in the Claude macOS app. It lets Claude access folders to read, edit, and create files with user approvals. This adds agency to multi-step tasks beyond chat. Such tools shift AI toward autonomous workflows in daily work.
The AI video space moves fast. Brands release updates weekly to improve motion, physics, audio sync, and control. Efficiency matters as much as raw power. Smaller or specialized models sometimes outperform giants in niche tests.
Creators pick tools by workflow fit. Mobile creators lean toward Veo or Kling for vertical and quick results. Professionals want Runway or Sora for editing depth and narrative strength. Open options like Stability tools allow custom fine-tuning.
Competition drives down costs and raises quality. Expect more integrations into apps and platforms. AI video becomes standard for marketing, education, and entertainment. Brands that balance control, speed, and realism gain the most users.
Olivia
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