Site icon Canadian Technology Magazine

Google Gemini’s NEW Features Are UNBELIEVABLE 👀 (New FREE Tools)

Sofia Alvarez
gemini

gemini

Table of Contents

Introduction

Google just rolled out three brand new, 100 percent free AI tools powered by Gemini that change the game for creators, developers, designers, and teams. These tools let you generate high-quality AI video, build functional AI apps without heavy coding, and brainstorm or create stunning images in seconds. In this guide I walk you through exactly what each tool does, how to use them step-by-step, practical use cases, best practices, and the creative and business opportunities you can unlock immediately.

Primary keywords included in the first 100 words: Google Gemini, free AI tools, AI generated video, build AI apps, Mixboard, Flow, AI Studio.

Quick overview – What you get

Why this matters right now

These tools are free and accessible, which lowers the barrier for small teams, creators, and entrepreneurs to experiment and ship AI-powered content and apps. The pace of innovation in generative AI is accelerating and this suite makes it easy to adopt AI for content production and automation. If you want to stay ahead, learn how to integrate these tools into workflows now rather than later.

Tool 1 – Flow: Create AI video with Veo 3.1

Flow lives at labs.google and it is a powerful text-to-video and frames-to-video tool driven by Veo 3.1 models. You can choose between v0 3.1 fast if you want quicker results or v0 3.1 quality when you need the highest fidelity. Flow supports multiple input styles: text prompts, frame sequences, or “ingredients” where you upload multiple reference images and describe how they should appear together in a video.

Getting started with Flow – step-by-step

  1. Visit labs.google and click Create with Flow.
  2. Select a model version. Choose v0 3.1 quality for the best visuals or v0 3.1 fast for speed.
  3. Pick an aspect ratio. Use landscape for long-form videos and portrait for vertical social clips.
  4. Decide on outputs per prompt. I recommend starting with one output to save time and compute.
  5. Choose your input method: text to video, frames to video, or ingredients to video.
  6. Provide your prompt, upload reference images if using frames or ingredients, then generate.

Frames to video demo and tips

A killer use case I tested was frames-to-video where I uploaded a picture of an egg as the start frame and an eagle as the end frame and asked Flow to create a transformation. The result was a short, visually coherent animation that went from egg to chick to big bird when guided properly. If you want hyper-realistic transitions, break the transformation into more intermediate frames like egg to chick, chick to adolescent bird, adolescent bird to adult bird. Stacking scenes allows you to create longer narratives, scenes, and even episodic content by adding new scenes that follow one another.

Practical tips for better video outputs

Tool 2 – AI Studio: Build Gemini-powered apps with Vibe Code

AI Studio at aistudio.google.com has been redesigned as a hub for building and testing AI-enabled apps. The Build section is where the magic happens. It gives you access to Gemini models for coding and app generation, with a feature called Vibe Code that enables rapid app creation with minimal configuration. There is also a Chat mode for interacting with models and a Dashboard and Documentation for monitoring and customizing your apps.

How to create an app in AI Studio

  1. Open aistudio.google.com and go to Build.
  2. Pick a model for code tasks – Gemini 2.5 Pro is recommended for best performance on coding, reasoning, and app logic.
  3. Set system instructions to define behavior. You can instruct the model to use specific UI patterns or code styles.
  4. Upload any files, screenshots, or PDFs that describe your app or dataset.
  5. Use the “I’m feeling lucky” button to auto-generate an app concept, or select a template like Video Understanding and customize it.
  6. Click Build and wait for your app to be generated.

In one example I built an app to analyze short vertical content such as TikTok or Instagram posts, focusing feedback on editing, pacing, and audience retention. The app was produced in 73 seconds, complete with a preview, code view, download option, and a deploy button. You can also save the project to GitHub or copy the app link to share.

What AI Studio gives you beyond code generation

Use cases and ideas

Tool 3 – Mixboard: Rapid image brainstorming and iteration

Mixboard in labs.google combines inspiration and generation into a single canvas. Describe a concept like “2028 Corvette – futuristic design” and Mixboard will instantly output multiple image variations. From there you can pick what you like, click “more like this” to iterate, remove backgrounds, duplicate variations, or combine multiple inspirations into a single composite result.

What Mixboard is best for

Example – Designing a 2028 Corvette

I asked Mixboard to imagine a 2028 Corvette that looks far more futuristic than a 2024 model. The tool generated a range of options instantly. Some looked like cars, some drifted into airplane aesthetics, and some nailed a sleek automotive feel. With Mixboard you can flag examples you like, request more in that style, and refine until you have several strong concepts. This is excellent for concept rounds with designers or stakeholders because you get dozens of visual directions in minutes instead of days.

Practical workflows and automation ideas

Here are concrete, copy-pasteable workflows you can adopt today to save time and speed up production.

Workflow 1 – Social content production pipeline

  1. Use Mixboard to generate 10 thumbnail concepts and 5 B-roll ideas for your next video series.
  2. Pick the best assets and export them as references.
  3. Use Flow in v0 3.1 quality to create a short animated intro or transition between clips using frames-to-video with your exported images.
  4. Upload your rough cut to AI Studio Video Understanding app to get feedback on pacing, editing, and retention hooks.
  5. Apply recommended edits, re-render in Flow for intros, and publish across platforms in both landscape and portrait formats.

Workflow 2 – Rapid product concept and pitch

  1. Create product visuals and mood boards in Mixboard.
  2. Generate a short pitch video in Flow that showcases the concept using ingredients-to-video for product shots and animations.
  3. Build a lightweight web app in AI Studio that includes the pitch video and a contact or lead capture form. Deploy and share with investors or testers.

Workflow 3 – Learning and training content

  1. Convert lecture slides or textbook PDFs into summaries using AI Studio chat or a custom app.
  2. Create short illustrative videos with Flow to visually explain complex concepts.
  3. Use Mixboard to generate supporting images and diagrams for handouts or slides.

Advanced prompting and system instructions

When building apps or generating content, how you instruct the model matters. In AI Studio you can set custom system instructions that dictate default behavior for the model. For example, you can instruct the app to return visual suggestions as emojis rather than SVG icons, or to always include a three-bullet executive summary first in any analysis.

Prompt and instruction tips

Model recommendations and settings

Ethics, copyright, and limitations

Generative AI is powerful but not perfect. Here are important considerations you should keep in mind.

Business and career implications

There is real momentum around AI replacing or augmenting roles. Estimates have been published suggesting hundreds of millions of roles could be impacted soon. This means two practical things: You can resist and risk being left behind, or you can learn to use these tools to augment your capabilities and become more productive and valuable.

How to embrace AI and future-proof your career

Suggested content and integrations

Here are recommendations for assets and integrations you can add to your workflow to maximize impact.

Multimedia suggestions to include with this article

Meta description and tags

Meta description: Google Gemini releases three new free AI tools – Flow, AI Studio, and Mixboard – that let you make AI video, build apps, and generate images fast.

Suggested tags and categories: Google Gemini, AI tools, Flow, Mixboard, AI Studio, generative AI, video generation, app builder, AI for creators, AI automation.

Call to action

If you want to move faster with AI and learn how to automate your work, consider enrolling in an AI automation course or joining a community where you can get feedback and audit your personal AI workflows. One place to start is AI Automation School at skool.com/ai-automation-school where practical workflows, agent building, and automation strategies are taught step-by-step.

FAQ

Are these Google Gemini tools really free to use?

Yes, the tools discussed here – Flow and Mixboard on labs.google and the Build features in AI Studio at aistudio.google.com – are available without upfront cost. Google provides free access to these experimental and developer features. Keep in mind usage limits and policy terms may apply and that Google may change pricing or access in the future.

Which model should I choose for video quality vs speed?

For video generation, choose v0 3.1 quality when you need the highest fidelity visuals. If speed is your priority and you are iterating quickly, pick v0 3.1 fast. Start with fast for drafts and upgrade to quality when finalizing.

Can I build and deploy an app without coding experience?

Yes. AI Studio’s Build interface and Vibe Code templates enable non-coders to generate functional app prototypes automatically. You can preview, download, save to GitHub, or deploy the generated app. For complex customizations you may still need developer support, but many practical products can be prototyped without in-depth coding knowledge.

What inputs can I upload to AI Studio and Flow?

You can upload images, screenshots, videos, and documents like PDFs. In Flow you can provide frames or ingredient images for video generation. In AI Studio you can upload context files that the model will use to build apps or provide feedback, such as videos for video understanding or PDFs for summarization tasks.

How should I structure prompts for better results?

Be explicit and iterative. Define aspect ratio, style references, and constraints up front. Use intermediate frames for complex video transformations. Upload reference images. Use system instructions in AI Studio to standardize behavior. Iterate by asking for “more like this” or asking the model to refine a selected example.

Are there copyright or ethical concerns I should be aware of?

Absolutely. Avoid generating content that infringes on trademarks or uses celebrity likenesses without permission. Be mindful that models can reproduce copyrighted material or biased outputs. Always review and validate AI outputs before commercial use and follow platform policies and local laws regarding intellectual property and privacy.

Can I use Mixboard outputs for commercial projects?

Mixboard outputs are suitable for prototyping, concepting, and many commercial uses, but you should review Google’s terms of service and content policy for each generated asset. If your project requires rights clearance, use explicit prompts and ensure you are not copying protected designs or trademarks.

How can I measure if an AI-generated video improves retention or engagement?

Use A/B testing. Publish a control version and an AI-enhanced version. Track metrics like view duration, click-through rate, and conversion rate. You can also feed videos into AI Studio’s analysis tools for suggestions on pacing, hooks, and visual interest before publishing.

What are good first projects to try with these tools?

Begin with small, high-impact projects such as: creating a 10-second animated intro for your channel in Flow, brainstorming 20 thumbnail concepts in Mixboard, or building a simple feedback app in AI Studio that analyzes short videos for pacing and editing suggestions. These projects are low risk, fast to iterate, and deliver immediate value.

Final thoughts

These three Google Gemini-powered tools offer a practical, accessible path to adopt generative AI for content creation, rapid prototyping, and app building. Flow gives creators the ability to make cinematic transitions and narrative sequences. AI Studio lets teams and individuals produce usable AI-enabled apps in minutes. Mixboard accelerates ideation and image production. Used together they unlock workflows that used to require specialized skills and weeks of iteration.

The future is moving fast. Get hands-on, learn to combine these tools, and start automating parts of your workflow today. If you want to go deeper and learn structured automation techniques, look into courses and communities that focus on building AI workflows and agents so you can turn these tools into consistent value for your business or career.

 

Exit mobile version