TikTok just launched a new AI-powered tool called AI Alive. This tool can transforms still photos into short videos using a simple text prompt.
What is TikTok AI Alive?
AI Alive is a generative video feature inside the TikTok Story Camera. Instead of using filters or templates, a user uploads a photo and types out a prompt describing how they would like it animated. The tool generates a short video clip based on their request. The process takes just a few minutes, and the result mimics a stylized animation like motion posters or slightly surreal video scenes.
It is currently rolling out in limited regions. There is no word yet on a global release.
How it works
Using AI Alive is simple:
Open the TikTok app and access the Story Camera.
Upload a still photo.
Enter a short prompt (for example, “a cat in the rain” or “surreal beach sunset”).
Wait while the AI processes and animates the image.
TikTok’s system combines the image provided with the prompt to generate new motion-based visuals. The results are meant to look like the image has come alive, not like a typical video. Every AI-generated video gets a watermark to indicate it is synthetic, and TikTok also adds invisible metadata for transparency.
TikTok says moderation is in place to prevent inappropriate use of prompts or images, though the details of how that works are not yet shared publicly.
Benefits for creators
If creators are short on time or editing skills, AI Alive can give them fresh content from their camera roll. It is especially useful for repurposing old photos that might otherwise go unused.
With the tools, creators, in theory, can animate past travel shots, portraits, or aesthetic product photos to create short-form content that feels new. This tool also seem to help creators test visual styles or storytelling techniques without investing heavily in editing software.