Google Photos has expanded its generative AI capabilities with a new feature that lets users describe how they want still images transformed into videos. The update, announced on Monday, introduces text prompts to the app’s image-to-video tool, enabling users to specify desired movements, styles, or effects when animating photos. This addition builds on the existing “Subtle Movement” and “I’m feeling lucky” options, which previously offered limited control over the video generation process. With text prompts, users can now input custom descriptions to guide the AI’s output. Google also provides prompt suggestions for instant creative inspiration, and allows users to edit these prompts to refine the results. The feature is currently restricted to users aged 18 or older, a limitation specific to the image-to-video tool in Google Photos. This age gate does not apply to the same generative AI functions in Gemini, where text prompts have been available for some time and are accessible to users as young as 13. The age restriction is likely intended to address concerns around misuse, particularly in light of past incidents involving similar AI tools—such as xAI’s Grok, which was exploited to generate inappropriate content from real photos, including images of children. Generative AI features in Google Photos are still rolling out gradually and are not yet available in all regions. Functionality may vary depending on location, so users are encouraged to consult Google’s support page for details on regional availability. In addition to the new prompt system, the update now includes audio by default in all videos created through the image-to-video feature. This means users can generate ready-to-publish videos without needing to add sound separately. Another enhancement is the introduction of a new Google Photos picker in Gmail. This tool simplifies the process of sharing photos and videos from your albums, collections, and shared albums directly via email. Users can now select multiple items at once and search for specific photos or album names, making it easier than ever to share content with others.