As detailed in the official Google DeepMind announcement, Veo 3.1 focuses on three core pillars: consistency, creativity, and control. For those of us in the digital space, these are the essential components for producing high-quality content that resonates with an audience.

Turning static images into dynamic stories

The standout feature of this update is the ability to use "ingredient" images as a baseline for video generation. Unlike previous iterations that relied heavily on text prompts, Veo 3.1 can take a specific reference image and bring it to life while maintaining remarkable identity consistency.

This is particularly beneficial for brands that need to keep characters, products, or specific backgrounds uniform across multiple scenes.

In the past, AI video generation often struggled with "hallucinations" where a character’s appearance might shift between shots. With the new consistency controls, creators can maintain a coherent narrative throughout a campaign.

Mobile-first video production

With the rise of short-form content on platforms such as YouTube Shorts and TikTok, the demand for high-quality vertical video has surged. Recognising this shift, Google has introduced native vertical output for Veo 3.1.

This update allows for the generation of 9:16 aspect ratio videos without the need for awkward cropping or loss of resolution. Furthermore, the model now supports upscaling to 1080p and 4K, ensuring that AI-generated clips meet professional production standards. According to Google’s technical breakdown, these high-fidelity options are currently rolling out across Flow, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI.

Transparency and the future of AI content

As AI becomes more integrated into our creative workflows, transparency remains a priority. To address this, videos generated via Veo 3.1 include SynthID digital watermarking. This imperceptible watermark helps to identify AI-generated content, fostering a more transparent ecosystem for both creators and consumers.

For marketers, this update offers a glimpse into a more efficient future. By combining tools like Nano Banana Pro for initial image generation with Veo 3.1 for animation, the barrier to producing bespoke, high-end video content continues to lower.

If you are looking to integrate the latest AI innovations into your digital strategy, you can explore the full range of capabilities on the Google Keyword blog.