Google has removed the paywall on HD AI video generation, announcing on September 23 that anyone with a Google Account can use Google Vids to create 1080p video for free. The feature runs on Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, which can turn text prompts, photos, audio, or existing clips into new footage. The rollout came roughly 24 hours before OpenAI's last remaining Sora access point — the Videos API and Sora 2 models — was shut down permanently on September 24.
Users can now visit vids.new and sign in with any Google account to generate full HD video at no cost. The tool includes new editing controls such as scene extension, which lengthens clips while keeping lighting, characters, and settings consistent; exact scene duration controls; and upscaling of lower-resolution clips to 1080p. Every video carries an invisible SynthID watermark from Google DeepMind that can be detected by Google's SynthID Detector to identify AI-generated content.
The free tier is not unlimited for all users. Personal Google accounts receive a standard allowance, Google's paid AI plans unlock more generation, and Workspace Business and Enterprise subscribers get larger generation pools plus admin controls. Gemini Omni initially launched in May 2026 as a paid feature for Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers, with free access limited to YouTube Shorts and YouTube Create. The Vids expansion marks the broadest release of the technology to date.
The timing highlights intense competition in AI video. OpenAI had already shut down the consumer Sora 2 app and website on April 26, 2026, and its remaining API survived five months before being removed on September 24. OpenAI's deprecation schedule lists no replacement model for sora-2, sora-2-pro, or their snapshots. The company said data associated with Sora will eventually be permanently deleted after applicable export windows, reflecting a broader shift toward enterprise products and Codex.
Google has also been aggressive on pricing, recently cutting the API rate for its Veo 3.1 Lite model to $0.05 per second. The company said a companion feature, Gemini 3.8 Flash-Lite text-to-speech, is coming next to turn written scripts into voiceover narration in more than 100 languages. The broader AI economics show rapidly falling model costs, making free access a viable customer-acquisition weapon for companies with large infrastructure and distribution networks.
