TECHNOLOGY
Photo to Video Magic: TikTok's New AI Feature
Berkeley, CA, USAWed May 14 2025
TikTok has just rolled out a new tool called TikTok AI Alive. This tool lets users transform still photos into moving videos within TikTok Stories. It's all thanks to some clever AI technology. The feature is tucked away in the Story Camera. It adds life to static images by introducing motion, atmospheric effects, and creative touches.
For example, a photo of a beach scene can become a video where the sky changes color, clouds drift, and you hear the sound of waves. Or, a group selfie can come alive with gestures and expressions. This isn't TikTok's first foray into AI. A few years back, they introduced a text-to-image generator. Now, they're taking it a step further with image-to-video.
Other platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have similar text-to-image features. But TikTok is pushing boundaries by offering video creation from images. Snapchat is also planning to let creators generate AI videos from images soon. So, TikTok is keeping up with the competition and maybe even leading the pack. TikTok AI Alive videos will have a label showing they're AI-generated. They'll also have special metadata. This metadata helps others identify the video as AI-generated, even if it's shared outside of TikTok.
Safety is a big deal for TikTok. They've built multiple checks to protect users. These checks happen during the creation process. They review the uploaded photo, the AI generation prompt, and the final video. Users can also report videos that break the app's rules. There's a final safety check before an AI Alive story is shared. This ensures that the content is safe and follows TikTok's guidelines.
To create an AI Alive video, open the Story Camera. Tap the blue plus button on the top of the Inbox or Profile page. Choose a photo from your Story Album. You'll see the AI Alive icon on the right side toolbar on the photo edit page. It's that simple. But here's a thought: while this feature is cool, it's important to use it responsibly. AI-generated content can be powerful, but it can also be misleading if not used correctly. It's up to the users to create content that is honest and respectful. This way, everyone can enjoy the magic of AI while staying safe and responsible.
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questions
What happens if the AI misinterprets a photo of a cat and turns it into a video of a dancing hot dog?
Could the AI be programmed to subtly influence users' perceptions through the videos it generates?
Is TikTok using this feature to secretly collect more user data for targeted advertising?
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