Google’s Veo 3 AI will let creators generate videos inside YouTube Shorts

Google will integrate its Veo 3 AI video generator with YouTube Shorts this summer, allowing creators to produce AI-generated content directly within the platform’s short-form video format. The move capitalizes on YouTube Shorts’ explosive growth, with viewership increasing 186% over the past year to reach 200 billion daily views.

Why this matters: This integration could dramatically expand AI-generated content creation, making sophisticated video generation accessible to millions of creators while potentially transforming how short-form content is produced and consumed.

The numbers behind Shorts’ success: YouTube Shorts has outpaced the platform’s overall growth trajectory, establishing itself as a dominant force in short-form video.

• Shorts now average 200 billion daily views, representing a massive 186% increase in viewership over the past year.
• The format has evolved from its original 30-second limit to accommodate up to 60 seconds of content.

Technical challenges to solve: Veo 3’s current output format doesn’t align with YouTube Shorts’ vertical orientation requirements.

• Veo 3 currently produces 720p landscape videos, which would create black bars when used in portrait-oriented Shorts.
• Google will likely need to create a custom version of the model specifically designed to generate vertical video clips.
• Each Veo 3 clip currently runs just eight seconds, making multiple clips necessary to create a full Short.

What creators can expect: YouTube CEO Neal Mohan positioned the integration as opening new creative possibilities for content creators.

• “I believe these tools will open new creative lanes for everyone to explore,” Mohan said at the Cannes festival.
• YouTube already offers some AI tools like Dream Screen, which generates AI video backgrounds from text prompts.
• The Veo 3 integration represents a significant expansion of these capabilities.

The cost factor: Accessing Veo 3 currently requires a substantial financial commitment that may limit widespread adoption.

• Google’s AI Ultra plan costs $250 and provides access to Veo 3.
• Even with the premium plan, users are limited to 125 eight-second videos per month.
• Mohan didn’t announce pricing details for the YouTube Shorts integration.

The bigger picture: Veo 3 has gained attention for producing video and audio content with “stunning fidelity” that can sometimes be indistinguishable from real footage, raising both creative possibilities and authenticity concerns in the digital content landscape.