The more that AI generates images, the more AI images generate controversy. We’ve got boomers allegedly falling for Facebook posts that more AI-savvy viewers would consider suspect. We’ve seen Google forced to address Gemini’s historically inaccurate approach to depicting diversity. Meta has struggled with similar diversity issues. And the legal landscape around AI image generation training data is gathering momentum.
Nonetheless, viewed purely from the perspective of content creation, the tools available to creators continue to evolve at dizzying speed. As a result, there are an assortment of AI image platforms battling for supremacy.
In recent weeks, it’s AI video generation that’s been turning heads. Back in February, OpenAI introduced their text-to-video model Sora, capable of creating “complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background.” However, at time of writing it’s only been made available to a select few testers.
To the chagrin of some in the AI influencer community, Sora was introduced via work from filmmakers like Toronto’s shykids, rather than the self-styled AI film makers who make up X’s (formerly Twitter’s) AI echo chamber. But as impressive as each jump forward in image creation can be, seeing AI tools in the hands of storytellers is more compelling than AI influencers churning out eye candy that lacks a POV.
Sora emerged in February, which is a long time ago in AI terms. Tired of waiting for access, AI influencers jumped on Kling, a Sora rival from Chinese TikTok rival Kuaishou that TechRadar called “scarily impressive.”
Kling’s not the only next-level video generator to nudge Sora out of the headlines. Luma Labs dropped their Dream Machine shortly after, offering 30 generations a month on their free tier, giving many AI creators the opportunity to turn their static images into animated action.
To coincide with their Dream Machine launch, Luma tapped Instagram AI creators like retro sci-fi world-builder artomaton and the surreal, Tim Burton-esque ethereal_gwirl. If X is awash with AI influencer “news”, the most interesting AI creators can be found doing more esoteric things on Instagram, and their collective leap to video is one to watch.
Meanwhile Runway, who’s platform is something of a toolbox of AI tools, has released clips of their own AI video generator, Gen-3. While Runway’s new video generation tool isn’t live yet, the combination of features available within the platform make it a decent pick for creators dabbling with AI image generation in various forms.
AI image generation remains an area that brands must navigate with caution. But for content creators, the influx of new visual tools designed to express ideas in ways that were inaccessible to most only months before? That’s well worth a look.