Google announced on Tuesday a key upgrade to its video generation model Veo3.1, focusing on deep integration with the social media ecosystem and significant improvements in generation quality.

The most obvious improvement in this update is the addition of native generation capability for the 9:16 vertical format. Previously, creators often needed to crop horizontal videos to fit social platforms, but now Veo users can directly generate content that fits the proportions of YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Instagram. To optimize the creative workflow, Google has deeply integrated this feature into the YouTube Shorts and YouTube Create apps.

QQ20260114-085802.png

Evolution of the Reference Image Feature, More Dynamic Performance

Building on the October 2025 version (enhanced audio and editing control), Veo3.1 has made a leap in visual expression:

  • Dynamic Enhancement: Even with short prompts, the system can capture and generate more expressive character expressions and movements through reference images.

  • High Consistency: Google has further optimized the coherence of characters, objects, and backgrounds, allowing users to mix different elements (such as specific characters paired with specific backgrounds) while maintaining a high level of visual consistency.

Full Platform Coverage and High-Quality Output

The new features of Veo3.1 are now available to users at different levels:

  • Regular Users: Can experience it directly through the Gemini app.

  • Developers and Professional Creators: Can access it through the video editor Flow, Gemini API, Vertex AI, and Google Vids.

  • Resolution Upgrade: For the professional side (Flow and API), Veo3.1 introduced a stronger upscaling function, supporting up to 1080p and 4K resolution output, ensuring AI-generated content meets professional screening standards.