“From photos to scroll-stopping vertical videos — no cropping, no chaos.”
Google has quietly made a big move for short-form creators. Its AI video model Veo 3.1 has been updated to create native vertical videos (9:16) directly from reference images — built specifically for platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.
This update is all about one thing: better videos for phones.
What’s new in Veo 3.1
Earlier, vertical videos were often made by cropping horizontal footage, which caused cut-off faces, awkward framing, and lost details. Veo 3.1 fixes this by generating true portrait videos from the start, so everything fits perfectly on mobile screens.
The upgraded “Ingredients to Video” feature lets users upload up to three reference images. Veo then blends characters, objects, and backgrounds from those images into a single, smooth video. Facial features, clothing, and environments stay much closer to the original images, making the output look more natural and realistic.
Better consistency, better visuals
One of the biggest improvements is visual consistency. Google says characters, objects, and backgrounds now remain stable even when the camera moves or scenes change. This solves a major problem in AI videos where faces or environments suddenly shift.
Animations are also more expressive. Even short or simple prompts now produce smoother movements and lifelike expressions, which is perfect for fast-paced social content.
High-resolution vertical videos
Veo 3.1 also supports 1080p and 4K upscaling for vertical videos. These higher-quality outputs are available through professional tools like Flow, Gemini API, Google Vids, and Vertex AI, making the model suitable for serious creators and production teams.
Where creators can use it
For everyday users, Veo 3.1’s vertical video features are being added directly to YouTube Shorts, the YouTube Create app, and the Gemini mobile app. This means creators can turn a few portrait photos into a social-ready video without leaving Google’s ecosystem.
Professional and enterprise users can access the same tools through Google’s cloud platforms, allowing easy integration into existing content and editing workflows.
With Veo 3.1, Google is clearly betting on the future of vertical video — and creators are the real winners.