Google TV mega-update coming with a tonne of new content and features – boost your TV or streaming device for free

Philips OLED 809 TV on wall with Google TV running on the screen – Sonos Arc soundbar underneath — (Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Quick Summary

Google will roll out a new feature update for Google TV this summer, starting in the US first.

It'll add several AI-powered photo and video creation tools, as well as the ability to search through your photo library by voice. And there will be a new section on the homepage for vertical videos, starting with YouTube Shorts.

Google will soon start to roll out a whole bunch of new features to its Google TV platform, which will improve many smart TVs and streaming devices.

The new Google TV update will include new content on the homepage in the form of vertical videos. Starting with YouTube Shorts, US Google TV users will be able to browse and play videos straight from the menu screen.

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A new rail will give you a personalised feed of vertical clips, which could also incorporate additional services over time – such as Instagram and TikTok. Both Disney+ and Netflix will also be introducing vertical videos to their respective platforms soon.

In addition, the new update will add a wide selection of AI tools for photo editing and creation, as well as the ability to make your own video clips using Veo – Google's AI-powered video maker.

Nano Banana will drive photo creation, with Personal Intelligent tech also tapping into your Google Photos library to help you make custom images featuring family members and pets.

The same is true with Veo, you'll be able to make video clips starring your own family, for example. All you have to do is describe the action and who you want in it, then Veo will hunt through your Photos library to find the person's likeness.

What else is coming to Google TV soon?

Other new features that are coming soon include the ability to search for specific photos in your library using your voice. And once found, you can then use Google Photos Remix to turn them into different art styles.

All of these new creations and the original photos will be available to view in a new dynamic slideshow, or you can easily set them to be your screensaver.

The update will roll out to US Google TV devices first – sometime this summer – with other regions to follow after. It also depends on your manufacturer on how many of the new features will be adopted and when.

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Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.

Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.