TikTok's new feature uses AI to turn photos into videos

TikTok

TikTok has launched a new AI-powered feature called AI Alive, a tool that transforms static images into short videos using text prompts. Housed within the app’s Story Camera, it aims to give users—regardless of editing skills—an easy way to animate photos with motion, visual effects, and atmospheric touches.

Users start by selecting a photo and entering a prompt like “make this photo come alive.” TikTok’s AI then processes the request, generating a video clip that typically lasts a few seconds. However, the results can be mixed. In testing, attempts to animate a cat photo in anime style came up short. While the tool succeeds at adding subtle motion and mood, it’s not yet at the level of full stylistic transformation.

TikTok claims it has put guardrails in place to curb potential misuse. Each upload—photo, prompt, and resulting video—undergoes moderation before the creator sees it. A final review takes place before publishing. The platform also adds an AI-generated label and embeds C2PA metadata for transparency.

The tool arrives amid ongoing scrutiny over generative AI’s misuse. Earlier TikTok filters, such as the “sway dance” effect, raised concerns after unexpectedly inserting people who weren’t in the original frame. While AI Alive doesn’t appear to replicate that specific issue, its capabilities raise new questions about how far visual manipulation should go.