Google launched Veo 3.1 Lite on March 31, 2026, a cost-effective video generation model that undercuts its own premium tier by over 50% while maintaining identical generation speeds. The release positions Google as the dominant force in accessible AI video following OpenAI's exit with Sora.

Veo 3.1 Lite supports text-to-video and image-to-video at 720p ($0.05/second) and 1080p ($0.08/second) with customizable durations of 4, 6, or 8 seconds. A 6-second 1080p video costs just $0.48. Developers can generate 100 four-second social media clips for $20.

"Veo 3.1 Lite is now available in paid preview through the Gemini API and for testing in Google AI Studio."

— Google Official Blog

The model is available through the Gemini API and Google AI Studio. Google also announced Veo 3.1 Fast pricing reductions coming April 7, plus a new upscaling capability on Vertex AI.

The three-tier system (Veo 3.1, Fast, and Lite) gives developers granular cost control. While Lite lacks 4K output support, it handles the vast majority of practical use cases at 1080p.

50%+ reduction Cost savings vs Veo 3.1 Fast
$0.05-$0.08 per second Pricing at 720p-1080p resolutions
Same generation speed Performance parity with Fast tier
4s, 6s, 8s durations Customizable video lengths supported

Google's timing is strategic. OpenAI's withdrawal from consumer video generation leaves a vacuum, and Lite's aggressive pricing forces competitors like Runway, Pika, and Synthesia to reconsider their positioning. The commodity phase of AI video generation has arrived.