
A new application of AI allows users to generate realistic videos by drawing paths on Google Maps screenshots. This technique can produce videos that simulate a drone's perspective, offering a cost-effective solution for filmmakers needing establishing shots. The process involves taking a screenshot of a map, drawing a desired route, and using AI to render a video that follows the path with impressive realism.
Read originalEarlier coverage that leads up to this article, and what followed. Lines connect each piece to the closest one after it, converging here.
Google Research Blog · February 17, 2026 · Background
Google Research Blog · April 22, 2026 · Background
Cole Medin · May 1, 2026 · Related
Google DeepMind · May 17, 2026 · Background
WIRED AI · May 19, 2026 · Background
TechCrunch AI · May 19, 2026 · Background
TechCrunch AI · May 19, 2026 · Background
The Verge AI · May 23, 2026 · Related
Matt Wolfe · June 29, 2026 · Related
Matt Wolfe · July 8, 2026 · Background
The Verge AI · July 31, 2026 · Related
Lev Selector · August 3, 2026 · Related
AI News · September 14, 2026 · Background
© TechCrunch AIPhota Labs shifts the paradigm from manual retouching to proactive reconstruction, using a custom identity model to fix poorly captured shots without distorting faces. Backed by a16z, the app targets the gap between raw snapshots and professional results by altering composition and lighting while keeping subjects recognizable. This approach solves the common generative AI failure mode of hallucinating facial features during enhancement. The focus on authenticity through invisible watermarks signals a maturing consumer market that demands transparency alongside quality.
© The Verge Creator EconomyAdobe’s latest experiments shift creative control from static prompts to interactive environments. Project Sight Span turns flat photos into navigable 3D spaces with generative depth, while Project Screen Test lets creators audition AI characters through conversation before generating animation. These aren't just incremental updates; they represent a fundamental change in how we interact with generative media, moving from text-to-image to spatial and behavioral exploration. The real story is Adobe’s push to make complex workflows feel intuitive, potentially replacing traditional stock libraries and manual editing steps.
© The Verge AIAdobe is finally bringing the 'remove' magic from Photoshop to Premiere Pro and Lightroom, closing a long-standing gap in its video editing suite. The new Generative Remove tool in Premiere lets editors mask and erase objects like boom mics directly on the timeline, filling the void with AI-generated detail rather than simple blurring. This moves generative fill from a static image feature into dynamic video workflows, significantly reducing the manual labor of rotoscoping or cloning. While not a new model release, it represents a critical maturation of Firefly's integration into professional creative pipelines.