logo
xAI teases Grok video generator

xAI teases Grok video generator

NBC News2 days ago
Elon Musk and xAI announced Monday that Grok users will soon be able to generate artificial intelligence videos complete with sound on its app.
The new feature is called Imagine, and it allows users to create both images and videos based on text prompts and turn static images into video. Currently, access appears to be limited to some employees and selected influencers, and the @Grok X account wrote Monday evening: 'Video generation is coming to Grok via our Imagine feature, powered by Aurora. Create instant videos with sound from text prompts. Download the standalone Grok app, subscribe to SuperGrok, and join the waitlist for early access in October.'
SuperGrok is a paid tier that costs $30 per month.
On Thursday, Musk teased 'bringing back Vine, but in AI form,' referring to the popular social media platform that Twitter shut down in 2017. An xAI employee said in a reply that Grok Imagine videos can be up to 6 seconds, the length Vine videos were famously known for.
Based on videos shared online by several xAI employees and users with early access to Imagine, the new feature works by having users type in descriptions of what they would like to have in their videos, and the app generates several videos that correspond to the descriptions that users can choose from.
xAI employees and Grok enthusiasts shared videos online showcasing the new feature. An xAI employee posted an AI-generated video of a cat purring while walking through space, and another posted an astronaut walking through an alien landscape.
An xAI employee said on X that the new feature promises some lewd possibilities.
Mati Roy wrote in a post sharing a video of a nearly nude woman, 'Grok Imagine videos have a spicy mode that can do nudity.' He said in a reply to another post that the new video generation feature would be able to create realistic videos of humans.
A few users in the comments expressed concern that the new features could allow users to create explicit deepfakes. An xAI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has been pushing to crack down on the creation of explicit deepfakes; President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law in May. The act, originally written by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, makes it illegal to publish nonconsensual sexually explicit images and videos, whether real or computer-generated.
New AI features on Grok had already drawn concern from some advocates because of the app's vulgar and sexually explicit 'companions' — AI characters users can talk to through text and speech. Musk had also announced that a new companion he had been teasing named 'Valentine' was now available on Grok.
Grok stoked controversy this month when it published a slew of antisemitic posts. The official @Grok account later said in a statement on X that it was 'actively working to remove the inappropriate posts.' Many of the posts, including ones in which the chatbot would refer to itself as 'MechaHitler,' were taken down.
Many AI platforms have already made AI video features available, including OpenAI, which released Sora in February, and Google, which released Veo 3 this month.
Musk responded to a user who compared the quality of Grok's video generation to Gemini's, saying, 'Grok Imagine is still early beta and is optimized for maximum fun, so should be evaluated as 'fastest time to make a fun, shareable video', rather than visual/auditory perfection. Our heavy duty video model will train on the 110k GB200s coming online next month." xAI is adding 110,000 graphics processing units, specialized circuits designed to help generate computer graphics, to its supercomputer Collosus in Memphis, according to Musk.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

This Space Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target
This Space Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

This Space Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target

Space exploration is no longer the exclusive domain of governments. Thanks to rising private sector involvement, the industry is on track to become a multi-trillion-dollar economic force. Consulting powerhouse McKinsey & Company projects that space-related activity could inject a staggering $1.8 trillion into the global economy by 2035, driven largely by the rapid expansion of satellite networks and their far-reaching impact across various industries on Earth. That said, while Elon Musk's SpaceX remains a leading force in this domain, its private status keeps it out of reach for everyday investors. And that's where Rocket Lab (RKLB) enters the picture. As one of the only independent space providers capable of competing in the same orbit as SpaceX, Rocket Lab's stock has wooed investors thanks to improving fundamentals, an expanding space systems portfolio, frequent launches, and growing industry credibility. More News from Barchart Here's What Happened the Last Time Novo Nordisk Stock Was This Oversold As SoFi Raises 2025 Guidance, Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold SOFI Stock Here? Earnings Will Be 'Worse Than Expected' for UnitedHealth. How Should You Play UNH Stock Here? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! In fact, Wall Street is certainly beginning to take note. Citi analyst Jason Gursky recently raised his price target on Rocket Lab to a new Street high of $50, well above the prior $33 target, highlighting rising confidence in the company's potential. With that in mind, here's a closer look at this fast-moving space stock. About Rocket Lab Stock Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab has evolved into a comprehensive space company with a proven track record of successful missions. The California-based company offers a range of services, from reliable satellite launches to spacecraft manufacturing and on-orbit management, making access to space faster, easier, and more cost-effective. Rocket Lab is best known for its Electron rocket, which has become the second-most frequently launched U.S. orbital rocket since its debut in 2018, delivering over 200 satellites into orbit for a mix of public and private clients. These missions support a range of activities, including national security, scientific research, climate monitoring, and communications. Just last month, Rocket Lab successfully completed its 68th Electron launch, delivering a satellite to orbit for a confidential commercial customer. The mission also set a new company record as the second launch from the same site in under 48 hours. Rocket Lab is also working on its larger Neutron rocket, designed to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9 and support satellite constellations. Since its Nasdaq debut in August 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger, Rocket Lab's market capitalization has swelled to roughly $21 billion. With a monster 723% rally over the past year that dwarfs the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 17% return, Rocket Lab has kept its momentum going in 2025, adding 72% year-to-date (YTD). Over the past three months alone, RKLB stock has surged 95%, driven by bullish analyst coverage, a series of successful launches and a major deal with the European Space Agency (ESA). A Look Inside Rocket Lab's Q1 Earnings Report Rocket Lab kicked off fiscal 2025 with a strong start, as its first-quarter earnings report on May 8 highlighted steady revenue growth and continued momentum across both its launch and space systems segments. The company delivered a record $122.6 million in revenue, representing an impressive 32% increase over the same period last year. Operationally, Rocket Lab delivered a flawless performance, achieving 100% mission success for Electron during the quarter. It completed five launches supporting Earth-imaging, monitoring, intelligence, and global wildfire detection missions. Notably, the company successfully executed three of those launches in just 13 days, a rapid pace that highlights its growing efficiency and reliability. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab continues to advance its next-generation Neutron rocket, with Stage 2 qualification now complete and Stage 1 qualification in progress. A key highlight from the quarter was Neutron's selection for the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program, a major $5.6 billion initiative aimed at supporting critical national security missions. In fact, total operating expenses increased 40% annually in the first quarter, primarily driven by a rise in investment in Neutron development. GAAP R&D spending rose to $55.1 million, reflecting Rocket Lab's accelerated focus on its next-gen launch vehicle. On the bottom-line side, the company reported a net loss of $0.12 per share, worsening from a $0.09 loss per share in the same period last year. However, margins showed encouraging signs of improvement. GAAP gross margin rose to 28.8% in Q1 2025 from 26.1% a year ago, while non-GAAP gross margin improved to 33.4% from 31.7%. The company's backlog remained strong at $1.067 billion, with 60% tied to space systems and 40% to launch services. Commercial customers accounted for 54% of the backlog, while government clients made up the remaining 46%. Looking ahead to Q2, which is scheduled to be reported next month, Rocket Lab expects revenue to land between $130 million and $140 million, with non-GAAP gross margins forecast in the range of 34% to 36%. Additionally, operating expenses for the quarter are projected to range between $96 million and $98 million, as the company continues to scale its infrastructure and development efforts. What Do Analysts Expect for Rocket Lab Stock? On July 14, Rocket Lab shares popped nearly 11% after Citi analyst Jason Gursky boosted his price target from $33 to $50 while keeping a 'Buy' rating on the stock. The upgrade came as Gursky shifted his valuation to reflect the company's longer-term outlook, projecting revenue to reach around $2.6 billion by 2029. Gursky pointed to several key areas that could drive momentum, including ongoing progress with the Neutron rocket, potential updates from the U.S. Department of Defense, and the company's ability to land more launch contracts. Looking ahead, the analyst expects Rocket Lab's growth to be driven by approximately 20 Neutron launches per year and a steady increase in satellite construction successes. The forecast also includes around $50 million in annual revenue from the Geost acquisition, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Overall, RKLB stock continues to earn Wall Street's trust, holding a steady 'Moderate Buy' consensus rating as analysts remain optimistic about its growth in the expanding space economy. Of the 15 analysts offering recommendations, eight advocate a 'Strong Buy' rating, one gives a 'Moderate Buy,' and six suggest a 'Hold.' The stock is already trading at a premium to its average price target of $34.42. However, Citi's Street-high target of $50 suggests that RKLB can still rally as much as 14% from here. On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on

Watch SpaceX blast Starship engine ahead of its 10th flight test
Watch SpaceX blast Starship engine ahead of its 10th flight test

Digital Trends

time2 hours ago

  • Digital Trends

Watch SpaceX blast Starship engine ahead of its 10th flight test

SpaceX has successfully completed a single-engine static fire test of its Starship spacecraft, taking it another step closer to the 10th flight test of the entire rocket, comprising the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft. The test took place at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday, and lasted a matter of seconds. The company shared several image and a video of the test on X. Starship single-engine static fire demonstrating an in-space burn complete on Pad 1 at Starbase — SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 31, 2025 Next up is the spacecraft's six-engine static fire, which is expected to take place on Friday. The last time it carried out this particular test, the Starship went up in a massive fireball. Recommended Videos The spectacular explosion was attributed to a failure in a nosecone-based pressurized tank containing gaseous nitrogen. The failure caused a catastrophic chain reaction that destroyed the vehicle and damaged the test site. No one was hurt in the incident. SpaceX has yet to announce a specific target date for the 10th test flight of the Starship — the world's most powerful rocket — but the company's CEO, Elon Musk, said recently that the vehicle would head skyward from Starbase in August. Shortly before the launch, Musk will give a presentation to update everyone about the progress of the Starship project, with the CEO expected to focus on areas such as engineering, production, and SpaceX's future launch plans. The Starship first flew in 2023, and the nine flights have produced mixed results for the team developing the 120-meter-tall rocket. But each flight gives engineers a lot to work with, allowing them to refine the design and performance of the rocket. NASA is planning to use a modified version of the Starship spacecraft to land two astronauts on the moon in the Artemis III mission, which is currently targeted for 2027, though that date could slip. Much depends on the progress made with the Starship's upcoming test flights. The Starship might also be used for the first crewed mission to Mars, which NASA could launch in the 2030s, though a firm timeline has yet to be announced.

Elon Musk Said He Would 'Walk The Line Personally' Following $16.5 Billion Samsung Deal, Is this A Return To 'Wartime CEO' Mode?
Elon Musk Said He Would 'Walk The Line Personally' Following $16.5 Billion Samsung Deal, Is this A Return To 'Wartime CEO' Mode?

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Elon Musk Said He Would 'Walk The Line Personally' Following $16.5 Billion Samsung Deal, Is this A Return To 'Wartime CEO' Mode?

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk recently announced he will be closely involved with Samsung Electronics (OTC:SSNLF) manufacturing the EV giant's next-gen AI6 chip following a $16.5 billion deal. What Happened: Taking to social media platform X, Musk announced the deal with Samsung on Monday. "Samsung's giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip," Musk said before adding that the deal had significant strategic 7,000+ investors have joined Timeplast's mission to eliminate microplastics—now it's your turn to However, what was interesting was the billionaire's comments after. Replying to the original post, Musk said that the deal was a critical point. "I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress," he said. This could signal Musk's renewed focus on his companies after a stint in politics and activism with the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Could this be a 'Wartime CEO' moment for Musk? Well, this isn't the first time Musk has expressed full commitment to his had earlier said in a post that he would "spend seven days a week" and would sleep at the office if his kids were away. That too wasn't an isolated case, as Musk had also shared that he would be "Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms," following outages experienced by social media platform added that he would 'be super focused on 𝕏/xAI and Tesla (plus Starship launch next week), as we have critical technologies rolling out."Why It Matters: Musk's renewed commitment to his businesses could be a confidence booster for investors following a disappointing Q2 earnings call for Tesla that saw the EV giant post a 12% revenue decline as well as dwindling sales figures across multiple regions. Despite this, Musk has remained optimistic and promised to release a new affordable Model Y, a decision that has been slammed by critics as it could lead to cannibalization within the company's lineup. Musk has also laid out ambitious targets of producing over 100,000 units of the Optimus robot annually in 5 years and serving about half of the population of the U.S. with robotaxis by the end of the year. Elsewhere, Musk's SpaceX also aims to conduct a test launch of its Starship rocket next month and the billionaire has said that the next major milestone for the company is to achieve orbital propellant refilling. Read Next: $100k+ in investable assets? Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes – no cost, no obligation. These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion – they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/Alessia Pierdomenico UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Elon Musk Said He Would 'Walk The Line Personally' Following $16.5 Billion Samsung Deal, Is this A Return To 'Wartime CEO' Mode? originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store