Google Veo 3.1 update brings vertical videos from reference images with 4K upscaling

Google's updated Veo model can make vertical videos from reference images with 4K upscaling

Google's Veo video AI made stunning leaps in fidelity in 2025, and Google isn't stopping in 2026. The company has announced an update for Veo 3.1 that adds new capabilities when you provide the model with reference material, known as Ingredients to Video. The results should be more consistent, and output supports vertical video and higher-resolution upscaling. With Ingredients to Video, you can provide the AI with up to three images to incorporate into the generated video. You can use that to provide the robot with characters to animate, backgrounds, and material textures. When you do that, the newly upgraded model will allegedly make fewer random alterations, hemming closer to the reference images. You can also generate multiple clips and even prompt for changes to the setting or style while keeping other elements consistent. Google is also expanding its support for mobile-first video in Veo. When using Ingredients to Video, you can now specify outputs in a 9:16 (vertical) ratio. That makes it ideal for posting on social apps like Instagram or TikTok, as well as uploading as a YouTube Short. So get ready for even more phone-centric slop. Google added support for vertical videos via a text prompt last year. Enhanced support for Ingredients to Video and the associated vertical outputs are live in the Gemini app today, as well as in YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app, fulfilling a promise initially made last summer. Veo videos are short -- just eight seconds long for each prompt. It would be tedious to assemble those into a longer video, but Veo is perfect for the Shorts format. The new Veo 3.1 update also adds an option for higher-resolution video. The model now supports both 1080p and 4K outputs. Google debuted 1080p support last year, but it's mentioning that option again today, suggesting there may be some quality difference. 4K support is new, but neither 1080p nor 4K outputs are native. Veo creates everything in 720p resolution, but it can be upscaled "for high-fidelity production workflows," according to Google. We are rushing headlong into a world where AI video is essentially indistinguishable from real life. Google, which more or less controls online video via YouTube's dominance, is at the forefront of that change. Today's update is reasonably significant, and it didn't even warrant a version number change. Perhaps we can expect more 2025-style leaps in video quality this year, for better or worse.

Google's update for Veo 3.1 lets users create vertical videos through reference images | TechCrunch

Google on Tuesday updated its Veo 3.1 AI video generation model with the ability to create native vertical videos for social platforms using reference images. The changes will also make the videos generated from reference images more expressive and dynamic. When producing AI-generated videos for YouTube Shorts or other platforms like Instagram or TikTok, Veo users can now natively choose the 9:16 vertical format to avoid any cropping. Google is also adding the feature directly to the YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app. Google first released Veo 3.1 in October 2025 with improved audio output and more granular editing controls compared to previous versions. When you provide reference images, Veo 3.1 now generates videos with better character expressions and movements, even if your prompts are shorter. Google said the update also improves character, object, and background consistency. What's more, users can blend various characters, backgrounds, objects, and textures to create a cohesive output. Users can access these features directly in the Gemini app. Professional users can access them through Google's video editor Flow, the Gemini API, Vertex AI, and Google Vids. The new update also brings an improved upscaling feature to 1080p and 4K resolutions, which is available on Flow, Gemini API, and Vertex AI in Google Cloud.

Google's Veo now turns portrait images into vertical AI videos

Google is making its Veo 3.1 AI video model pay closer attention to the reference images you want generated clips to be based on. The company is releasing new visual improvements for the "Ingredients to Video" tool that was introduced last year, alongside expanding native vertical video support and resolution upscaling features. The Ingredients to Video tool allows Veo users to generate videos based on up to three reference images, pulling in materials like character subjects, backgrounds, and textures to have more control over how the results will look. Google says this update will make videos "more expressive and creative," and provide "richer dialogue and storytelling." There are also consistency improvements that should be more perceptible -- Veo 3.1 should now ensure a character looks the same across different clips and environments, and will let users reuse objects, backgrounds, and textures across scenes.

Veo 3.1 Ingredients to Video: More consistency, creativity and control

This content is generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental Today, Veo is getting more expressive, with improvements that help you create more fun, creative, high-quality videos based on ingredient images, built directly for the mobile format. We're excited to bring new creative possibilities for everyone from casual storytellers to professional filmmakers. We're releasing: Whether you are looking for livelier movement, better control over visual elements or broadcast-ready resolution, these updates give you the tools to bring your vision to life. These updates are launching in the Gemini app, YouTube, Flow, Google Vids, the Gemini API and Vertex AI.

Enhanced Veo 3.1 capabilities are now available in the Gemini API.

Today, we are releasing updates to Veo 3.1 in the Gemini API and Google AI Studio, giving developers greater creative control and production-ready quality. * Enhanced Ingredients to Video: The updated model intelligently synthesizes your inputs to preserve character identity and background details, ensuring your characters and settings remain consistent across videos. * Native Vertical Format Videos for Ingredients to Video (Portrait Mode): Generate social-ready 9:16 videos directly. Designed for mobile-first applications, this mode delivers faster results and optimized composition by generating full-frame vertical video rather than cropping from landscape. * New 4K and Improved 1080p definition: Unlock professional fidelity directly within your workflow. Using state-of-the-art enhancement techniques, the model now outputs clearer, crisp 1080p and creates stunning 4K videos suitable for the big screen. These capabilities, along with our SynthID digital watermark, are available today in the Gemini API and Vertex AI for enterprises. See this in action via the Google AI Studio demo app.

Google Unveils New AI-Powered Editing Features for Veo 3.1 - Phandroid

If the past couple of years are any indication, you could definitely say that AI has moved on from becoming the latest marketing buzzword to something that's found on nearly everything these days. That in mind, Google recently announced a major update to its Veo 3.1 video generation model, which brings over some new features. Google says that it's bringing more expressive "Ingredients to Video" capabilities for content creation, which allows users to transform reference images into high-quality clips with improved character and background consistency across different scenes. This allows for more cohesive sequences even when using simple text prompts. The update also comes with native vertical outputs, which lets users create 9:16 portrait-mode content. Veo 3.1 will also support upscaling to 1080p and 4K resolutions for sharper and clearer image quality. For transparency, all generated videos will include imperceptible SynthID watermarks, and users can now verify Google-generated video content directly within the Gemini app. The updates will arrive for the Gemini app, YouTube, Flow, and Google Vids. While creators can access these tools through the YouTube Create app and Gemini, enterprise users can use the Gemini API and Vertex AI for high-resolution production.