Google just threw a curveball into the AI video race by announcing Veo 3, the newest version of its generative video model, now optimized for vertical formats and priced to undercut rivals. If you’ve ever wondered when AI video would start catering directly to TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, the answer is: right now.
What makes this drop interesting isn’t just the 9:16 aspect ratio support. It’s the pricing shift of videos with Veo 3 now costs around $0.40 per second—a steep fall from the $0.75 price tag of earlier versions.
For creators strapped for cash but hungry for content, that’s a game-changer. The company also released a “Fast” mode at just $0.15 per second, trading some polish for speed, which honestly feels like a nod to the chaotic, blink-and-you-miss-it nature of today’s viral clips.
Here’s where it gets spicy: this move drops just as Nvidia unveiled Rubin CPX, its own AI chip designed specifically to handle high-volume video generation. If Nvidia is building the muscle, Google’s clearly aiming to own the distribution.
With YouTube integration on the horizon, the battle isn’t about whether AI video will dominate but about who gets to set the rules of the playground.
Of course, all this shiny innovation comes with the not-so-small issue of authorship and copyright.
We’re already seeing sparks fly at Cannes, where an AI-assisted feature film called Critterz has set off heated debates over whether art made with AI is truly “art” or just sophisticated remixing.
Critics argue the creative soul is missing, while supporters insist AI is just the next paintbrush in humanity’s kit.
On a personal note, I can’t help but wonder how long it’ll be before we can’t tell whether the ads, short films, or political campaign spots we’re watching were shot with a camera or summoned by code.
Sure, the democratization of content is exciting—anyone can be a storyteller now. But it also feels like a double-edged sword: cheaper, faster, more accessible, yes, but also easier for misinformation and fake narratives to spread like wildfire.
In the end, Veo 3 is more than just a tech upgrade. It’s Google staking its claim on how the next wave of digital storytelling will look—vertical, bite-sized, and optimized for the scrolling thumb.
Whether that’s a good or bad thing probably depends on whether you’re a creator, a consumer, or one of the regulators desperately trying to keep up.