YouTube is stepping up its game in the short-form video space with the rollout of powerful new creative tools for Shorts. The platform now features a photo-to-video converter, generative effects powered by Veo 2, and an integrated AI Playground—all designed to make content creation faster, easier, and more interactive for creators around the world.
New Shorts Creation Tools (July 2025)
Photo-to-Video Tool
In a move reflecting features previously seen in Google Photos, YouTube’s new photo-to-video tool allows creators to breathe life into static images. Users can select any photo from their device’s camera roll, apply a creative suggestion, and instantly generate a dynamic short video. This technology animates landscape shots, adds motion to group photos, and turns everyday snapshots into engaging video moments. The process is simple, effectively turning still images into captivating Shorts content with just a few taps.
Generative Effects Powered by Veo 2
Expanding creative horizons further, YouTube Shorts now comes equipped with generative effects powered by Veo 2. These features enable creators to:
- Transform simple doodles into fully realized, stylized visuals.
- Modify selfies with unique, AI-generated elements such as underwater environments or sibling lookalike filters.
Accessing these effects is straightforward—users can tap the ✨ Effects icon within the Shorts camera and navigate to the AI section, unlocking a suite of creative possibilities.
AI Playground for Shorts Creation
The AI Playground acts as a centralized hub for all of YouTube’s generative AI tools. Within this space, creators find:
- Example content that demonstrates what’s possible.
- Ready-to-use prompts for inspiration.
- Tools for generating original videos, images, and even music.
Accessible via the Create button and the sparkle icon in the top-right corner, the AI Playground makes exploring AI-driven content creation seamless and intuitive.
Commitment to Transparency
Sarah Ali, VP of Product Management for YouTube Shorts and Creation Experiences, highlighted the company’s emphasis on responsible AI use. All AI-generated content created with these tools is marked with SynthID watermarks and clear labels to indicate its artificial origin. This ensures transparency and helps viewers distinguish between human- and AI-generated content.
Availability
- Photo-to-Video Tool: Now live and rolling out over the next week in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additional regions are set to receive the feature later this year.
- Generative Effects: Expanding globally to more users in the coming weeks. These are currently powered by Veo 2, with the next iteration, Veo 3, expected to launch this summer.
- AI Playground: Now accessible for creators in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
With these launches, YouTube is signaling a clear commitment to empowering creators with state-of-the-art, AI-powered tools—paving the way for a new era of short-form, interactive, and highly creative video experiences.