Google Vids adds personalised AI avatars and Gemini Omni integration to Workspace suite
New features allow users to generate custom digital avatars from selfies and voice recordings, while the integration of the multi-modal Gemini Omni model enables advanced editing and prompt-based video generation within Google Workspace.
Google has updated its Vids platform to introduce personalised AI avatars and integrate the Gemini Omni multi-modal model, marking a significant expansion of the tool’s capabilities. The update allows users to create custom digital avatars that mimic their likeness and voice using uploaded selfies and voice recordings. This move positions Google Vids as a more comprehensive video creation platform, moving beyond its original function as an AI-assisted workplace presentation tool.
The integration of Gemini Omni enables video generation from text prompts and reference images, alongside editing features such as background swapping, lighting correction, and step-by-step modifications. Users can now make incremental changes to their videos rather than restarting the process from scratch. These enhancements are designed to support business use cases, including company updates and training videos, as Vids is now fully integrated into the Google Workspace suite.
To address concerns regarding synthetic media, the new avatars feature invisible SynthID watermarking and are tied directly to the user’s Google account. Access to personal avatars is restricted to users aged 18 or older in specific regions. While the exact regions for this rollout have not been detailed, the restriction aims to mitigate risks associated with the creation of unauthorised or misleading digital likenesses.
The update places Google in closer competition with AI video startups such as HeyGen, Synthesia, Captions, and D-ID. This shift comes as OpenAI’s Sora, a previous competitor in the space, has reportedly shut down. By offering both personalised avatars and advanced editing tools, Google is targeting a broader market that includes both enterprise users and individual creators seeking high-quality synthetic media solutions.
Google Workspace remains the primary distribution channel for these new features, signalling the company’s intent to embed AI video creation into standard business workflows. The combination of account-locked avatars, watermarking, and multi-modal editing capabilities suggests a focus on controlled, professional-grade output rather than open-ended creative experimentation.
