Latest news with #Flow
CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
I Spent $125 to Generate 5 AI Videos a Day With Google's Veo 3. The Sound Sets It Apart
I am just a girl who wants to be on a warm beach but most of the time, I'm trapped behind a computer screen. So, like any reporter who tests and reviews AI, I make my days more bearable by using these AI programs to create alternative-timeline versions of myself somewhere where Jimmy Buffett is playing and you can smell the salt. Here's what Google's newest AI video model, Veo 3, came up with. My beach bonfire party dream-turned-prompt is usually my first test as I put a new AI generator through its paces. And I admit, I had pretty low expectations for Veo 3. While I did see some social media posts gawking at Veo 3's capabilities, I've seen enough slop and hallucinations to approach with skepticism. Google's AI creative products, in particular, have always felt like a bit of an afterthought to me, something the company adds on to its extensive Gemini offerings to compete with the other tech heavyweights. But this year at the company's annual I/O developer conference, Google's Imagen 4, Veo 3 and Flow all took center stage. So I dove into Veo 3. Without spoiling anything, I walked away from Veo feeling like this was the next natural step for Google, with one feature in particular giving the company an edge that might make it a more serious contender in the AI creative space. But there are serious limits and annoyances that I hope are addressed soon. Here's how my experience went and what you need to know. Veo 3 availability, pricing and privacy Veo 3 is currently available for Gemini Ultra users in the US and enterprise Vertex users. In other words, you'll need to pay up to play around with the new Veo. Ultra is Gemini's newest, priciest tier at $250 per month. (It's currently half off for $125 per month for three months.) Vertex is Google's AI enterprise platform, and you'll know if you have access to it. If you don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for access to Google's AI video tools -- and I don't blame you -- you can try out Veo 2 with Google AI's Pro plan. I found that the one-month free trial is enough time to figure out if you want to pay the $20 per month fee to continue using it. You can check out my hands-on testing with that model for more info. Google's Gemini privacy policy says the company can collect your info to improve its technologies, which is why it recommends not sharing any confidential information with Gemini. You also agree to Google's prohibited use policy, which outlaws the creation of abusive or illegal content. My wild ride with Veo 3 The most impressive thing about Veo 3 is its new audio generation capabilities. You don't have to tell Gemini in your prompt that you want sound; it will automatically add it. This is a first among competitors like OpenAI's Sora and Adobe's Firefly and it certainly gives Google a huge edge. While the AI audio is a nice perk, it isn't perfect. If you're familiar with the somewhat clunky nature of AI-generated music and dialogue, you'll be able to identify it immediately. But there were times when it flowed more naturally. The clashing metal sounds and grunts in my alien fight scene were timed perfectly to their attacks, something that would've been difficult to add on my own afterward. But the dinosaur-like aliens also literally say "roar" and "hiss" instead of making those noises. My kayaker's paddling very nearly matched up with the water sloshing sound. The nature ambience in that video was particularly lovely and added a layer of depth that's been missing from AI videos. My dream beach bonfire partiers didn't sound like any party I've ever been to, but still, points for being first and relatively unproblematic. Of course, while the audio was nice, it doesn't take away from the weird eccentricities that continue to plague AI generators. I ran into a few hiccups, mostly with people's faces, a notoriously hard thing for AI to mimic. But compared to the glaringly obvious errors I ran into with Veo 2, the new generation does appear to have made real improvements as Google claimed it did. I run into hallucinations a lot when I'm testing AI image and video generators, so the first thing I do is look for whether a service gives me the ability to edit it. Veo 3 doesn't offer any of these, which is a bummer. It's certainly something that's going to make it less useful for professional creators, who are used to more fine-tuning editing tools and need to make precise tweaks for their projects. You can send a follow-up prompt asking for specific changes. For example, I asked Veo to change the angle in the previous video so I could see her face, which the program handled well. With Veo 3, you'll typically have to wait 3 to 5 minutes for a new, edited video to load, though. Veo 3 has the longest generation time of any AI video generator I've tested. But the addition of audio to the videos excuses the longer wait time in my eyes. The worst part of Veo 3 is how quickly I hit my daily generation limit. After only five videos, I was barred for an entire 24-hour period -- something that really annoyed me and made it much harder to assess. Google's VP of Gemini and Google Labs, Josh Woodward, said in a post on X/Twitter that Ultra subscribers like me have the highest number of generations that reset daily, in the regular Gemini app and in Flow. And for me, that limit in Gemini was five videos. Flow's limit is 125, according to Woodward. I reached out to Google to get clarity on what the daily limit is for Ultra users creating through Gemini that Woodward mentions. Here's the response: "Google AI Ultra subscribers get the highest level of access to Veo 3, our state-of-the-art video generation model, which they can use in both the Gemini app and Flow, our new AI filmmaking tool." The limits are another sign that this isn't a tool meant for professional creation and iterative editing. You need to spend time thoughtfully crafting your prompt and if Google flubs a face or glitches, you're likely to run out of credits fast and end up out of luck. Veo 3 is better suited for AI enthusiasts who want to dip their toes in video creation, not creators experimenting with AI. Is Veo 3 worth the cost? After an underwhelming experience with Veo 2, I had reservations about what to expect in the usefulness and accuracy of Veo 3. But the new model was impressive, the audio especially, even though it's still missing some key features. Let me be clear: There is no rational reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a Gemini Ultra plan only to use Veo 3. If you want to dabble for fun, you can do that with Veo 2 for hundreds less per month, and if you're a creative professional, Veo 3 still lacks crucial features like editing. The Ultra plan does offer other features, like YouTube Premium, 30 terabytes of space and access to the newest Gemini models. So if you want any of those things, then, yeah, pay up and go play around with Veo 3. But it's not worth it on its own. Veo 3 isn't the revolutionary upgrade those social media posts might lead you to believe. It is the next generation, better than last month's Veo 2, and it shows real promise in Google's future AI video endeavors. But be prepared to pay up if you want to try it out.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Internet Obsessed With Why Cat Feels 'Special' When Watching Film
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A TikTok video featuring a black cat with an unusual TV habit has drawn the attention of social media users, who can't cope with how cute it is. The clip, shared on Saturday under the username @itsjojiandmochi, shows the black cat, Joji, lounging on his owner's bed, with his eyes locked on the screen, watching the animated series Flow, which follows the adventure of a lookalike cat. "PSA: this is your sign to have your black cat watch Flow because it makes them feel special," the poster writes in the clip as Joji gets even closer to the TV, following all of the protagonist' movements. "This is his second time watching it and he stays up to watch it," she adds in the caption. Joji really seemed to enjoy watching the lookalike animated version of himself on TV, but can cats actually see what's happening on the screen? Science says possibly, though maybe not always. Some studies have found that felines are able to identify images on TV, but the way they perceive these images in their brain is still unknown. If you find your cat is staring at the television while it is on, it may be for two reasons: they are either stimulated by what's on; or they are being disturbed by it, says the U.K. charity Cats Protection on its website. When your feline watches with narrow pupils and ears, and whiskers pointed forward, they may be stimulated by the image on the TV. If their pupils are dilated and their ears flat, it may be a sign that they're stressed by what is on screen. A Catster article medically reviewed by Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca says that watching TV programs featuring prey animals and linear movement may be beneficial for cats, as it provides enrichment and stimulation. However, just like with humans, watching too much TV is not healthy, especially when it is used as a substitute for environmental enrichment. Another danger of watching the TV is your cat attacking it, which could cause it to fall on them and get hurt. A stock image shows a black cat lounging on a bed, watching the TV. A stock image shows a black cat lounging on a bed, watching the TV. getty images The video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 552,900 views and 96,200 likes on the platform. One user, Rae, commented: "This reminds me of when I played Shrek for my orange kitty and he meowed so loud the entire time pussnboots was on screen. He was the best kitty in the world." Nicorudu said: "My cat LOVED Flow. Could not stop watching and was SO expressive throughout. Amazing movie." Jameelaamira added: "My black cat has to watch cat TV channels on YT—she loves watching the live feeds of the birds. She'll love this." Newsweek reached out to @itsjojiandmochi for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Forget YouTube — Google's new Flow TV offers mesmerizing AI videos for free
If you've ever wished for entertaining videos that showcase the best of creative prompts and AI cinematography, Google's Flow TV is sure to get your attention. Announced just last week at Google I/O, Flow and Veo 3 are tools included in Google's Ultra package. But if you're shy about shelling out $249 a month for a subscription to create your own AI generated videos, you can still enjoy the non-stop stream of videos created by others. Requiring no subscription, with plenty of themed channels, including one dedicated entirely to cheese, Flow TV is live and you can start watching right now. Part of Google's experimental Flow platform, Flow TV serves as a mesmerizing public showcase for the tech giant's most advanced generative models; Veo 3, Imagen 4, and Gemini — all working together to create a never-ending reel of videos based entirely on simple text prompts. No ads. No playlists. No influencers. Just pure silicon cinema on autoplay. Like an AI-powered art gallery meets streaming service, instead of human-uploaded videos, every single clip you watch is generated by AI. At Google Labs, you'll find multiple themed channels, each continuously playing a stream of original AI content. Think of it as the Netflix of machine imagination. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Flow TV (Main): A general showcase of AI's full creative range Fantasy: Dragons, castles and magical realms Sci-Fi: Alien encounters, futuristic cities and robot drama Nature: Realistic weather, lush forests and tranquil vistas Animals: Creatures both real and fantastical Sports: High-octane action from AI athletes Food: Surreal but mouthwatering culinary creations Cinematic: Film-like lighting and moody compositions Abstract: Shapes, colors and visual experiments Water: Ocean scenes, rainstorms and liquid physics Fire: Explosions, lava and pyrotechnics galore Each video comes with the exact prompt that created it, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how a few words can conjure complex scenes; complete with motion, music and sound effects. Flow TV is powered by Google's newest AI tools. Veo 3: A high-resolution (1080p) text-to-video model that generates coherent short films from prompts — including dialogue, music and synced sound effects. Imagen 4: Handles the artistic direction and visual polish, bringing texture, lighting and style to life. Gemini: Helps interpret nuanced prompts, ensuring the video's tone, pacing and narrative remain consistent. When all of these tools come together, the result is videos that sometimes look like scenes from Pixar or a Netflix original — only they were never filmed. They were written into existence by AI with a single prompt. Watching Flow TV is completely free and doesn't require a Google account. Just visit Flow TV, pick a channel, and let the AI show you what it can do. If you want to create your own AI videos, you'll need a Google Ultra subscription, which unlocks the full Flow studio. This includes access to Veo 3, Imagen 4, custom editing tools and more. Flow TV is the most accessible AI video showcase to date — a no-barrier glimpse into just how far generative video has come, requiring no coding or prompting skills to enjoy. It's also a wellspring of creative inspiration, with each video accompanied by the exact prompt that generated it. Whether you're an artist, filmmaker or curious tech user, you can gain inspriration via the prompts of other users. With channels curated by mood or genre, Flow TV offers a peek at a future where AI creates endless, personalized streams of content on demand. At the same time, it raises important questions about authorship, data transparency and the blurring lines between fiction and reality in an AI-driven media landscape. Google's Flow TV is an opportunity to give users and creatives an opportunity to reimagine video generation. It's surreal, strangely beautiful and slightly unsettling. Whether you're fascinated by the future of AI, looking for creative inspiration or just want to watch a dragon ride a wave of lava in stunning 1080p, Flow TV is your next stop.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO maligns FDA delays over depression device treatments' US market entry
The CEO of Flow Neuroscience has called out the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for market entry delays for clinically validated devices for treating depression. The UK company's CEO pointed out that in spite of these delays, the US market is instead 'flooded' with wellness products that lack clinical validation and make 'vague' claims about their ability to 'improve focus' or relieve the symptoms of depression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices such as the one developed by Flow, which gained a breakthrough device designation from the FDA in 2022, have been proposed as a new treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD). In a recent international clinical trial of Flow's device, the results of which were recently published in Nature Medicine, 57% of patients experienced remission from depressive symptoms and no severe side effects reported, while 92% of participants had a clinically significant response to the treatment. Despite the breakthrough designation, Flow remains unavailable in the US. 'People can easily purchase wellness devices with no clinical evidence behind them, while science-backed companies are still waiting on regulatory approval,' said Flow Neuroscience CEO Erin Lee. 'This kind of regulatory imbalance doesn't just hold back innovation, but ultimately harms patients.' Lee pointed out that the FDA system is 'fundamentally inconsistent' and called its approach 'two standards under one roof' given the FDA demands extensive US-based trials from devices that already meet international medical standards, yet at the same time, companies can 'flood the wellness category with unverified claims and no clinical scrutiny'. A recent whitepaper testifies to this gap. It found that 85-90% of medical devices in the US reach market via the 510(k) pathway, which doesn't require clinical trials, while novel neuromodulation devices like tDCs are typically pushed into De Novo or Premarket Approval routes, requiring multi-year trials even if they have existing international approval. Lee concluded: 'In practice, what this means is that people in Sweden, the UK, or even Hong Kong can access a device like Flow, while Americans are left with expensive gadgets that claim to stimulate the vagus nerve or boost brainwaves, without any evidence.' The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "CEO maligns FDA delays over depression device treatments' US market entry" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How AI Could Change the Way Doctors Diagnose and Treat Dementia
It's no secret that artificial intelligence has seeped into different areas of life. But while your eyes may glaze over hearing about how AI impacts the latest Google search results or the customer service industry, there's one area that's worth paying attention to: AI's potential impact on dementia care. A growing body of research suggests that advances in AI could help revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat dementia in the future—and it may even help ease the burden on caregivers, too. That has a massive potential impact on the population, given that dementia affects more than 6 million Americans. More from Flow Space All That Multitasking Is Breaking Your Brain. Here's How to Stop It's important to point out that the use of AI for dementia diagnoses and care is still in early stages. But doctors note one major impact is the likelihood of making quality dementia care accessible to everyone. Here's where things stand right now, plus where doctors see things headed. As of right now, there is no officially approved AI tool that can be used in a doctor's office to help diagnose patients with dementia. But AI has the potential to help with a huge problem doctors who treat dementia face, says Vijaya B. Kolachalama, PhD, a computational medicine researcher and associate professor in the department of medicine at Boston University. 'We don't have many dementia experts, and the field is desperate to get more,' he says. 'Trying to get an appointment with a neurologist takes months and, for some cases, that may be too late.' Kolachalama says there are 'only a handful of behavioral neurologists' who work at specialty centers and treat patients with dementia and cognitive impairment. 'Their calendars are completely booked,' he says. But there are private neurology practices or clinical centers with expertise to treat dementia, Kolachalama points out. 'Then you have primary care physicians—they may not have the expertise and resources to diagnose these conditions,' he says. As things stand right now, people with cognitive issues will usually see their primary care physician, get a referral, then have to wait for months to see a specialist, Kolachalama says. But the right AI tools could potentially help use the same knowledge a behavioral neurologist (i.e., a top-tier dementia specialist) has to create a data set which would allow doctors with less experience to make a proper dementia diagnosis, he says. 'We've been on this quest for some time now,' Kolachalama says. 'We are making really good progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done.' AI is mostly being used in research settings, explains C. Munro Cullum, PhD, a neuropsychologist and professor of psychiatry, neurology and neurological surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. 'I've used it in a couple of studies,' he says. 'We are in the early stages of using this technology.' AI is mostly used to mine electronic medical records to look for predictors of dementia, Cullum says. 'But these are not tools that are out there in practitioners' hands,' he adds. Still, AI is 'revolutionizing' dementia diagnoses by analyzing medical data, like brain scans, genetic profiles and cognitive test results, faster and more accurately than ever before, says Gopi Battineni, PhD, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Camerino in Italy. 'We can detect early signs of Alzheimer's or other dementias with machine learning models years before symptoms show up in MRIs or PET scans,' Battineni says. 'I am confident that this will allow for earlier intervention and more tailored care.' AI can even help alleviate some patients' fears or encourage them to see a doctor, according to Dr, Clifford Segil, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. He points out that patients usually use AI to look up their own symptoms and then share what they've learned with him. Segil says he encourages patients to find any diagnoses that concerns them. 'Then, I evaluate them for the diagnoses I am worried about,' he says. For now, AI's biggest role in dementia care is analyzing 'vast amounts' of medical data, says Adrian Owen, PhD, a neuroscientist at Western University and chief scientific officer at Creyos Health. 'AI can detect subtle changes that may elude humans—even patterns of speech or handwriting,' he says. 'There are already places where AI has matched or exceeded experts.' AI is already being used by some caregivers—often without them realizing it—and its role in supporting families affected by dementia is only expected to grow. The goal, for now, is to help provide more access to proper dementia diagnoses and treatment to people at earlier stages, Kolachalama says. 'AI can help identify if a person has some form of cognitive impairment, and then we're trying to see what may be causing it,' he explains. 'Is it Alzheimer's? Depression? Anxiety? … There are multiple things that can cause dementia at the same time.' AI can even provide better at-home monitoring, Cullum says. 'Some in-home monitors are looking at how people are walking around their home environment and searching for predictors,' he says. Battineni agrees: 'A monitoring system detects falls, wandering or unusual behavior and alerts caregivers.' Virtual assistants can remind patients to take medication or when their next appointment is thanks to AI, Battineni says. Care coordination platforms can make communication easier between family, doctors and care teams, he adds. For now, AI is mostly helping provide information for caregivers, Segil says. 'There is a large burden placed on caregivers of patients with memory loss, dementia and the elderly,' he says. 'I am hopeful AI shares common sense and best practice ideas like emphasizing mobility as we age.' Ultimately, doctors are hopeful that AI will help transform the way dementia is diagnosed and treated—and even help ease the burden for caregivers. 'I think AI is very likely to reshape the entire landscape of dementia care,' Owen says.
