A creator edits an AI-generated video using Google’s Flow platform powered by Veo 3.1 with new audio and editing features. Image Source: ChatGPT-5
Google Launches Veo 3.1 and New Audio Controls in Flow
Key Takeaways: Google Expands Veo 3.1 and Flow’s Creative Capabilities
Veo 3.1 introduces richer audio, enhanced realism, and stronger prompt adherence for lifelike, narrative-driven AI video generation.
Flow, powered by Veo, now supports audio across all features, including Ingredients to Video, Frames to Video, and Extend.
New in-app tools like Insert and Remove give users greater editing precision to refine or modify scenes.
Over 275 million videos have been created in Flow 1, reflecting rapid adoption of AI filmmaking tools.
Veo 3.1 is available through the Gemini API, Google Vertex AI, and the Gemini app for developers and enterprise customers.
AI Video Generation: Google Introduces Veo 3.1 and Flow Enhancements
Google is rolling out a major set of updates to its AI filmmaking ecosystem, anchored by the launch of Veo 3.1 and expanded creative controls in Flow. The updates aim to give users — from filmmakers to developers — deeper narrative control and richer audiovisual realism when generating or editing AI-created video content.
Five months after introducing Flow, Google’s browser-based AI video creation platform powered by Veo, the company says it has seen “over 275 million videos generated in Flow 1.” The new version focuses on a key piece of user feedback: the need for more artistic control and integrated audio throughout the creative process.
Audio Integration: Veo 3.1 Brings Sound and Realism to AI Filmmaking
With Veo 3.1, audio generation is now built directly into Flow’s existing tools, allowing creators to combine visual storytelling with AI-generated soundscapes for the first time.
The latest version introduces richer, context-aware audio, stronger prompt adherence, and improved audiovisual quality when turning images into videos. These upgrades enable true-to-life textures, capturing environmental sound, dialogue tone, and ambient noise that enhance immersion. Google notes that these capabilities remain experimental, with plans to continue refining quality, realism, and user control based on creator feedback.
Creators can now:
Craft the look of a scene using Ingredients to Video, combining multiple reference images to define characters, objects, and visual style.
Control transitions through Frames to Video: provide a starting and ending image, and Flow will generate a seamless clip that bridges the two — ideal for cinematic pans and artistic storytelling.
Create extended shots with Extend, enabling minute-long sequences that continue seamlessly from prior clips, maintaining continuity and momentum. Each new video is generated from the final second of the previous clip, making it especially useful for creating longer establishing shots or continuous scenes without visible cuts.
Editing Precision: Insert, Remove, and Reimagine Within Flow
The latest version of Flow introduces precision editing tools that make it possible to refine scenes directly within the interface — a capability that turns the tool into a full-cycle creative platform.
Insert allows users to add new visual elements to any frame, from realistic details to fantastical creatures. The system automatically adapts lighting, shadows, and reflections for natural integration.
Remove (coming soon) enables users to erase objects or characters from scenes, with Flow intelligently reconstructing the background so it appears untouched.
By enabling on-the-fly scene reconstruction, Flow shortens creative iteration cycles and helps users reimagine their clips without restarting the process.
Veo 3.1 Model: Realism, Control, and Developer Access
Under the hood, Veo 3.1 improves on Veo 3 with enhanced realism and refined audiovisual generation. It captures true-to-life motion and texture, translating image prompts into dynamic, cinematic video while giving creators greater narrative and stylistic control. These advancements make Veo 3.1 one of Google’s most capable AI video models to date, achieving cinematic quality at scale while maintaining user-driven control.
For developers and enterprises, Veo 3.1 is accessible via the Gemini API, Google Vertex AI, and the Gemini app, enabling seamless integration into professional workflows.
Q&A: Veo 3.1 and Flow Updates Explained
Q1: What’s new in Veo 3.1?
A: Veo 3.1 adds audio generation, enhanced realism, and stronger prompt adherence for more cinematic, narrative-controlled video creation.
Q2: How does Flow integrate with Veo 3.1?
A: Flow runs on Veo 3.1 and now includes audio, extended video creation, and in-app editing for creators to refine clips directly.
Q3: What are the new editing tools in Flow?
A: Insert lets users add new visual elements, while Remove reconstructs the scene after deleting unwanted objects or characters.
Q4: Where can developers access Veo 3.1?
A: Through the Gemini API, Vertex AI, and the Gemini app, with enterprise-ready deployment options.
Q5: Why does this update matter for creators?
A: It expands creative control, integrates sound design, and streamlines AI filmmaking, empowering creators to produce more expressive, cinematic videos.
What This Means: Google’s Veo 3.1 Redefines AI Video Creation
With Veo 3.1 and the latest Flow upgrades, Google is positioning its platform as a leader in AI-driven video production — one that blends speed, realism, and creative flexibility.
By merging audiovisual generation, in-app editing, and developer accessibility, Google is pushing AI filmmaking toward professional-grade quality while keeping it accessible to a wide user base.
The updates mark a step toward a future where AI tools act as collaborative creative partners, not replacements — giving storytellers more freedom to shape, refine, and experiment with visual narratives.
Ultimately, Veo 3.1 represents the next phase of AI video evolution, where control, coherence, and creativity converge to make AI-assisted filmmaking feel seamless and human-guided.
Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant used for research and drafting. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.