Google's AI Video Generator Debuts on a Non-Pixel Smartphone
The Scoop on Google's Veo 2: A Fresh Take
Google's latest AI video model, Veo 2, has hit the scene, and it's creating quite a stir. This bad boy can whip up eight-second videos, but there's a catch—you've gotta fork over the dough for Gemini or upgrade to Google One AI Premium for the privilege.
You might think that Pixel users, ever at the forefront of Google's feature rollouts, would be the first to taste Veo 2's video-generating goodness. But hold your horses, mate! This time, it's Honor phone owners who'll reap the benefits first—and trust me, it's a perk you can't even get your hands on stateside.
Veo 2: Honor Edition
According to The Verge, anyone shelling out for an Honor 400 or 400 Pro will snag Veo 2 for free—at least for the first two months. Even better? Unlike Whisk, which limits you to animating images made with the service, Honor users can animate their very own selfies or snaps. The Verge's very own Dominic Preston got a sneak peek at the feature, and he didn't hold back on sharing his thoughts.
Take, for instance, a photo of Grant Nicholas, the musician from Feeder. Lifeless and static at first, the image springs to life once Veo 2 gets its hands on it, creating a short clip that looks like a grainy snippet from a live concert. (Note: The videos had to be converted to GIFs to fit into The Verge's article, so don't be too harsh on the quality.)
Preston sang Veo 2's praises when it came to clear, simple subjects, like their pet cat. But complex scenes? Not so much. Veo 2 struggled to make sense of a vintage car, spinning the vehicle without turning the wheels, and a bunch of tomatoes left viewers wondering if a transparent hand was reaching for the fruit.
Honor (or, perhaps, Google) has imposed a daily limit of 20 video outputs. The Verge reports that Honor said Google would offer a subscription for the feature down the line, but as of now, the specifics remain silky-smooth.
Who's This For?
Even if the daily limits didn't exist, I can't help but question who exactly will be harnessing the power of this swanky feature. C'mon, it's a neat party trick, sure, but is regularly animating your photos through a hit-or-miss video generator really necessary?
It's a little weird that Google is giving the green light to Honor devices first, but honestly, Pixel users might just be dodging a bullet here. After all, life goes on without an AI-powered video generator, right?
- Tech enthusiasts who own Honor 400 or 400 Pro smartphones might be curious to know when Veo 2, Google's AI video model, will be available on their devices as a free two-month trial.
- For those who are interested in gadgets and artificial intelligence, it's worth noting that Veo 2 can animate selfies and photos on Honor devices, a feature not currently available on Google's Pixel smartphones.
- In the realm of technology and smartphones, Google's Veo 2, though offering unique video-generating capabilities, might find its niche less among those seeking daily use and more among users looking for a novel party trick.
