Google Vids: How to Use the New AI-Powered Animated Captions
In an era where short-form video dominates the web and “silent viewing” has become the default behavior for millions of users, captions have evolved from a simple accessibility requirement into a crucial stylistic element. Recognizing this shift, Google is rolling out a substantial update to Google Vids, its AI-powered video creation tool for Workspace, specifically targeting how users handle automated subtitles.
From Utility to Design Element
Previously, auto-generated captions in Google Vids were functional but visually rigid—typically white text against a black background. With this week’s update, the platform is pivoting toward the dynamic, animated styles popularized by social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The new feature set allows creators to apply stylized captions that animate in sync with the visual content. Users can now customize the typography, opacity, background colors, and animation styles. This move aligns Google Vids more closely with dedicated social content editors, allowing corporate and creative users to produce video content that feels native to modern social feeds rather than stiff corporate presentations.
How It Works
The workflow remains streamlined within the Google Vids interface. Users can access the new tools by opening a project and selecting the Captions menu from the sidebar. The system offers the flexibility to apply these styles to a single scene or propagate them across the entire video timeline.
Crucially, Google has retained the ability to edit the AI-generated transcripts, ensuring that users can correct any transcription errors before finalizing the video. For those who prefer the traditional, non-stylized look, the legacy closed captioning option remains available but has been relocated to the View menu.
Support for Manual Workflows and Global Languages
While the update emphasizes AI automation, Google continues to support manual workflows. Users can still upload their own caption files in standard formats like .srt and .sub. However, professional editors should note that, similar to current YouTube limitations, SRV3 and YTT file formats are not supported.
The update is currently live for all Google Workspace accounts and boasts impressive global support. The new captioning tools are compatible with a wide array of languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and many others, covering major markets across Europe and Asia.
By bridging the gap between professional video creation and social media aesthetics, Google Vids is positioning itself as a more versatile tool for the modern, multi-platform workplace.
