Google Veo 3.1: Incremental AI Video Update, Not a Generational Leap
Google unveils Veo 3.1 on October 15, 2025, an AI video model update adding 'Frames to Video' and improved realism, but maintains an 8-second cap, sparking mixed user reactions and competitive scrutiny against OpenAI's Sora 2.
Google launched its new video model Veo 3.1 with improved audio output, granular editing controls, and better output for image to video.
Try Veo 3.1 here: https://higgsfield.ai/veo3.1 More from Higgsfield: https://higgsfield.ai/ Explore the new Higgsfield Veo 3.1 — a major ...
Veo 3.1 brings richer audio, more narrative control and enhanced realism. Summaries were generated by Google AI.
Google's Veo 3.1: An Incremental Step in AI Video, Not a Generational Leap
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Google has unveiled Veo 3.1, an update to its generative AI video model, which adds the ability to produce clips based on both a defined first and final frame. This enhancement, while widening creative control for users, seems to be a modest refinement rather than the major technological leap some expected in the fast-moving field of AI-driven media generation. Early assessments, including user feedback and a competitor comparison, suggest that Veo 3.1 reinforces Google's position but does not truly redefine the state of the art.
The main functional addition in Veo 3.1 is the "Frames to Video" feature, letting users set both the initial and final frames of a generated video, a capability missing in its predecessor, Veo 3, which could only generate from a starting frame or a text prompt. This feature, intended for "artful and epic transitions," marks a step forward in granular control over AI-generated video narratives.
Nevertheless, earlier industry speculation about features like the ability to generate videos up to one minute long has not materialized. Veo 3.1 videos remain capped at an 8-second maximum, a constraint that continues to limit the model's utility for longer-form content creation. Google's official statements, including a blog post from October 15, 2025, by Jess Gallegos and Thomas Iljic, Senior Product Manager at Google DeepMind and Director of Product Management at Google Labs respectively, confirm improved audio output, more realistic lighting, better adherence to physics, and richer textures as key advances. These enhancements are accessible within Google's Flow video editor, which has reportedly enabled the creation of over 275 million videos since its debut in May 2025.
User Reception and Comparative Performance
Despite Google's focus on improved realism and audio, user reactions have been mixed. Citing observations from online commentators such as @YolaoDude on X (formerly Twitter) on October 15, 2025, some users voice disappointment, noting that the improvements over Veo 3 are not as pronounced as the substantial leap seen between Veo 2 and Veo 3. Moreover, head-to-head comparisons with OpenAI's Sora 2 model do not consistently show superior image quality from Veo 3.1, underscoring the competitive landscape of AI video generation.
The subtle nature of the update is further highlighted by its integration into Google's services. Veo 3.1 has directly supplanted the base Veo 3 within Google Flow, indicating an evolutionary rather than revolutionary upgrade. Veo 2, while still available, carries a warning about impending support termination, suggesting Google's strategic shift toward newer iterations.
Expanded Features and Ecosystem Integration
Beyond the core generation capabilities, Veo 3.1 also improves object manipulation. The model now lets users insert new elements into a scene with "Insert," handling details such as shadows and lighting for seamless integration. Google also announced that users will soon be able to remove existing objects from videos within Flow, with the system reconstructing backgrounds to preserve visual coherence. These features, along with "Ingredients to Video" for multi-reference image control and "Extend" for creating longer, contiguous shots (up to one minute by extending existing clips), aim to provide more comprehensive editing tools.
Veo 3.1 is not limited to Flow; the model is being rolled out across Google's AI ecosystem. Developers can access it via the Gemini API, enterprise clients through Vertex AI, and general users via the Gemini App. This wide availability reflects Google's strategy to embed its generative AI capabilities across various platforms and user groups.
The release of Veo 3.1 positions it as a robust, albeit gradual, advancement in Google's generative AI portfolio. While it offers refined control and better realism, it does not deliver the extended video lengths or universally superior outputs that would mark a definitive break in the current trajectory of AI video model development. The industry continues to await a decisive breakthrough that could fundamentally reshape the economics and creative possibilities of video production.
The original article states that Veo 3.1's "biggest addition is the ability to create videos with both first and last frames," and that the base Veo 3 only generates from a starting frame or text prompt. This is directly contradicted by the TechCrunch article, which states: "Veo 3 already has edit features such as adding reference images to drive a character, providing the first and last frame to generate a clip using AI, and the ability to extend an existing video based on the last few frames." The Google AI blog elaborates on this, noting that "Frames to Video" is an existing capability to which audio is now being brought with Veo 3.1.
The original article claims that "other features that were rumored, particularly generating videos up to 1 minute long, are not in the release: videos are 8 seconds maximum." This is inaccurate. Google's official blog post explicitly mentions the 'Extend' feature: "With 'Extend,' you can create longer videos, even lasting for a minute or more, that connect to and continue the action from your original clip." TechCrunch also mentions its existence implicitly by citing the Google announcement.
The original article correctly identifies some improvements in Veo 3.1, such as "improved sound, more realistic lighting, and attention to physics and details," which are largely consistent with the external sources' descriptions of "richer audio," "enhanced realism," and "stronger prompt adherence." However, the claim that it doesn't always generate a better picture compared to Sora 2 or that differences from Veo 3 are not as noticeable, while reflecting potential user disappointment, is a subjective assessment rather than a verifiable fact that can be directly confirmed or refuted by the technical specifications provided by Google or TechCrunch.
The original article accurately notes that Veo 3.1 has replaced the base third version in Google Flow service, while Veo 2 remains available with an impending end-of-support warning. This detail is not contradicted by external sources and is consistent with typical software release cycles where older versions might be deprecated.
8 листопада 2025 р.
Google launched its new video model Veo 3.1 with improved audio output, granular editing controls, and better output for image to video.
Try Veo 3.1 here: https://higgsfield.ai/veo3.1 More from Higgsfield: https://higgsfield.ai/ Explore the new Higgsfield Veo 3.1 — a major ...
Veo 3.1 brings richer audio, more narrative control and enhanced realism. Summaries were generated by Google AI.
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