YouTube recently announced an exciting update to its Dream Screen feature for Shorts, allowing users to create AI-generated video backgrounds. This new capability is made possible through the integration of Google DeepMind’s AI video-generation model, Veo, which can produce high-quality 1080p video clips in various cinematic styles.
Previously, Dream Screen could only generate image backgrounds, but now users can input text prompts and watch as AI creates unique video backgrounds based on their descriptions. To access this feature, simply enter the Shorts camera, tap the “green screen” icon, and select “Dream Screen.” From there, type in a prompt like “candy landscape” or “magical forest with a stream,” choose an animation style, and tap “Create.”
Once you have generated a series of video backgrounds, you can select one to use as the backdrop for your recording. YouTube suggests that this new feature can be used for activities such as immersing yourself in the setting of your favorite book or creating an animated opening for your Short videos.
In the future, YouTube plans to expand this feature to allow creators to generate standalone six-second video clips for their Shorts using Dream Screen. This enhancement provides Shorts creators with a unique tool that is currently unavailable on TikTok, the leading short-form video platform. While TikTok enables creators to generate AI-powered background images, it does not currently offer the ability to create video backgrounds.
The Dream Screen feature is now accessible to users in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As YouTube continues to innovate and provide new tools for creators, it will be interesting to see how this feature is utilized in the ever-evolving landscape of short-form video content creation.
