YouTube has significantly expanded its AI capabilities by integrating Google DeepMind's advanced Veo 2 video generation model into its Shorts platform, enabling creators to produce high-quality video content with simple text prompts.
The integration allows creators to generate AI video clips for their posts, representing Google's competitive response to OpenAI's text-to-video generator Sora. While YouTube previously offered AI-generated backgrounds for Shorts through its Dream Screen feature, Veo 2 takes this further by enabling the creation of standalone video clips that can be added to any Short.
According to YouTube, Veo 2 generates state-of-the-art, high-quality videos across a wide range of subjects and styles that better match creators' visions. The technology processes videos faster than previous iterations and demonstrates improved understanding of real-world physics and human movement, resulting in more detailed and realistic output. Creators can even specify particular styles, lenses, or cinematic effects, making Dream Screen an intuitive tool for creative expression.
To use the new features, creators can access Dream Screen through the Shorts camera's Green Screen option, where they can input text prompts to generate videos. The functionality launched in February 2025 for creators in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with YouTube planning to expand access to more regions.
Addressing potential concerns about misuse, YouTube utilizes DeepMind's SynthID technology to embed digital watermarks into AI-created videos. All AI-generated content is clearly labeled to help viewers identify it as such. This responsible approach to deployment includes a limited initial rollout to select products before expanding to platforms like YouTube Shorts in 2025, with all AI-generated videos marked with invisible SynthID watermarks.
The latest development builds on Google's broader AI video strategy, which recently saw the release of Veo 3 in May 2025. This newer model further advances video generation capabilities by adding audio features, including dialogue, soundtracks, and sound effects. As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise to transform how content is created on one of the world's largest video platforms, potentially democratizing high-quality video production for creators without extensive technical skills or equipment.