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Pika Labs releases AI video generator 2.0 with new features

Matthias Bastian
Matthias Bastian View the LinkedIn Profile of Matthias Bastian
Dec 14, 2024
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Pika Labs

Pika Labs has released version 2.0 of its AI video generator with a major new feature that allows users to add their own images to AI-generated videos. The company calls this feature "Scene Ingredients."

The tool works by letting users build scenes from different visual pieces. You can upload pictures of people, objects, clothing, or environments, and the AI figures out what each image is meant to be and combines them into a working scene.

For example, if you upload a photo of someone and a picture of a cat, then type "a person petting a cat," the AI understands what you want and creates an animated video of that interaction.

Interface screenshot: Two image previews labeled "SELFIE" and "CAT" next to text description of generated scene.
Pika Labs 2.0's new "Scene Ingredients" feature enables users to incorporate their own images as elements for AI-generated videos. |Image: Pika Labs

The system lets you mix and match different elements - you can throw in pictures of people, objects, clothes, or backgrounds, then add text to tell the AI what you want them to do. Users are already getting creative with it: some have taken figures from historical paintings and dropped them into modern scenes, while others have created dance videos by combining different visual elements.

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Tweet with AI-generated image: Two people in cinema seats, one in modern clothes, other in historical costume with blue turban.
A creative demonstration of the template function: The famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is transported into a modern movie theater. This feature enables seamless integration of historical artworks into contemporary scenarios. | Image: via Justine Moore

Pika Labs takes aim at OpenAI's Sora with wider availability

Pika Labs announced that its upgraded video generator, which also features improved visual quality and better prompt following, will be available to all users, including those in the European Union.

This approach differs from OpenAI's strategy with Sora - while a basic version is available to all ChatGPT users, the full-featured version remains limited to Pro subscribers who pay $200 per month. One key restriction is that only Pro users can upload and animate images containing people. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said that Sora won't be available in the EU for now due to regulatory requirements.

Video: Pika Labs

Stanford students Demi Guo and Chenlin Meng founded Pika Labs, building a team that includes AI researchers who previously worked at Google, Meta, and Uber. The startup has raised $80 million and is currently valued at $470 million.

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The company had already released a generative audio model for sound effects and pre-made video effects before this update. Users can try the new version 2.0 on pika.art or through the company's Discord server.

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