Google Vids adds AI avatars to its video editor and launches a consumer version

Google debuted its new-age video editor called Vids for the Google Workplace productivity suite last year. On Wednesday, the company is adding new features like AI avatars, automatic transcript trimming, and image-to-video tools. It is also releasing a free-to-use feature for consumers with limited features.

This version of the editor will have basic edit controls along with access to Google’s template library, font collection, and stock media library, but it won’t offer AI features at this time.

In the business world, startups like Sythesia and D-ID offer companies access to AI avatars and related tooling for the creation of training and educational videos. Google is debuting a similar feature for its Workplace customers through Vids. The core pitch is the same: if you don’t have enough budget to create videos, use our AI tools to make one.

Users can post a script, select an avatar from a range of voices and personas, and create a video. Google announced the AI avatars feature at Google I/O in May and released it in beta. Now, the feature is hitting general availability.

Google is also adding a video editing feature that automatically detects filler words like “um” or “ah” and long pauses. You can click on these words or pauses to remove them, and the editor will adjust the video accordingly.

The company launched the image-to-video generation capability for Veo 3 in July. It is now adding that feature to Vids for users to create eight-second video clips.

Google said that apart from these features, it is working on noise cancellation, Google Meet-like backgrounds and effects, and support for new sizing formats such as portrait, landscape, and square. However, the company didn’t specify the release date for these.

The new AI-powered features will be available to Workplace Business or Enterprise Starter users, a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscriber, or a Workspace for Education customer.