logo
AI Video Becomes More Convincing, Rattling Creative Industry

AI Video Becomes More Convincing, Rattling Creative Industry

NDTV08-07-2025
Gone are the days of six-fingered hands or distorted faces -- AI-generated video is becoming increasingly convincing, attracting Hollywood, artists, and advertisers, while shaking the foundations of the creative industry.
To measure the progress of AI video, you need only look at Will Smith eating spaghetti.
Since 2023, this unlikely sequence -- entirely fabricated -- has become a technological benchmark for the industry.
Two years ago, the actor appeared blurry, his eyes too far apart, his forehead exaggeratedly protruding, his movements jerky, and the spaghetti didn't even reach his mouth.
The version published a few weeks ago by a user of Google's Veo 3 platform showed no apparent flaws whatsoever.
"Every week, sometimes every day, a different one comes out that's even more stunning than the next," said Elizabeth Strickler, a professor at Georgia State University.
Between Luma Labs' Dream Machine launched in June 2024, OpenAI's Sora in December, Runway AI's Gen-4 in March 2025, and Veo 3 in May, the sector has crossed several milestones in just a few months.
Runway has signed deals with Lionsgate studio and AMC Networks television group.
Lionsgate Vice President Michael Burns told New York Magazine about the possibility of using artificial intelligence to generate animated, family-friendly versions from films like the "John Wick" or "Hunger Games" franchises, rather than creating entirely new projects.
"Some use it for storyboarding or pre-visualisation" -- steps that come before filming -- "others for visual effects or inserts," said Jamie Umpherson, Runway's creative director.
Burns gave the example of a script for which Lionsgate has to decide whether to shoot a scene or not.
To help make that decision, they can now create a 10-second clip "with 10,000 soldiers in a snowstorm."
That kind of pre-visualisation would have cost millions before.
In October, the first AI feature film was released -- "Where the Robots Grow" -- an animated film without anything resembling live action footage.
For Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, Runway's co-founder, an AI-generated feature film is not the end goal, but a way of demonstrating to a production team that "this is possible."
'Resistance everywhere'
Still, some see an opportunity.
In March, startup Staircase Studio made waves by announcing plans to produce seven to eight films per year using AI for less than $500,000 each, while ensuring it would rely on unionised professionals wherever possible.
"The market is there," said Andrew White, co-founder of small production house Indie Studios.
People "don't want to talk about how it's made," White pointed out. "That's inside baseball. People want to enjoy the movie because of the movie."
But White himself refuses to adopt the technology, considering that using AI would compromise his creative process.
Jamie Umpherson argues that AI allows creators to stick closer to their artistic vision than ever before, since it enables unlimited revisions, unlike the traditional system constrained by costs.
"I see resistance everywhere" to this movement, observed Georgia State's Strickler.
This is particularly true among her students, who are concerned about AI's massive energy and water consumption as well as the use of original works to train models, not to mention the social impact.
But refusing to accept the shift is "kind of like having a business without having the internet," she said. "You can try for a little while."
In 2023, the American actors' union SAG-AFTRA secured concessions on the use of their image through AI.
Strickler sees AI diminishing Hollywood's role as the arbiter of creation and taste, instead allowing more artists and creators to reach a significant audience.
Runway's founders, who are as much trained artists as they are computer scientists, have gained an edge over their AI video rivals in film, television, and advertising.
But they're already looking further ahead, considering expansion into augmented reality and virtual reality -- for example creating a metaverse where films could be shot.
"The most exciting applications aren't necessarily the ones that we have in mind," said Umpherson. "The ultimate goal is to see what artists do with technology."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Google I/O Connect India 2025: Google brings its Gemini AI models to Indian developers
Google I/O Connect India 2025: Google brings its Gemini AI models to Indian developers

Time of India

time22 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Google I/O Connect India 2025: Google brings its Gemini AI models to Indian developers

has announced a series of new initiatives and AI capabilities at Google I/O Connect India 2025 , focussing on localising technology and fostering innovation. One of the key announcements was the localisation of data processing for Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash model in India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This move is designed to provide developers with stability and speed, which is critical for building applications in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where data residency and low latency are non-negotiable. According to Dr. Manish Gupta, Senior Director for India and APAC at Google DeepMind, the role of Indian developers is crucial as they 'are literally writing the next chapter of India's success story.' . 'We remain steadfast in bringing them our industry-leading, cutting-edge capabilities to accelerate their journeys, and India's leadership in a global AI-led future,' he said. Google also highlighted its collaboration with three startups selected by the India AI Mission—Sarvam, Soket AI, and Gnani—who are building next-generation "Make in India" AI models using Google's Gemma models. This partnership extends to working with BharatGen at IIT Bombay to create indigenous Indic language Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Text-to-Speech (TTS) models, making AI more helpful for historically underrepresented languages. Google introduces AI tools and training program for game developers Google introduced new agentic AI tools within Firebase Studio, its cloud-based workspace for building full-stack AI applications. These tools, including optimised AI templates, are designed to help developers create and deploy sophisticated apps more quickly and without upfront costs. The company also announced a training programme for game developers in partnership with Unity, a leading game engine platform, and the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The free program, initially for 500 developers, will offer over 30 hours of online training to help participants build skills in game development, art, and programming. Preeti Lobana, Country Manager for Google India, pointed to the 'India Opportunity,' stating, 'India's developers are shaping how the world will use AI, and we're proud to stand with them.'

Explained: What is Baby Grok, and how it could be different from Elon Musk's Grok chatbot
Explained: What is Baby Grok, and how it could be different from Elon Musk's Grok chatbot

Time of India

time37 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Explained: What is Baby Grok, and how it could be different from Elon Musk's Grok chatbot

Elon Musk launches Baby Grok, a child-friendly AI chatbot under xAI, after backlash over Grok's raunchy content. Baby Grok offers safe, educational interactions for kids on the X platform, aiming to balance innovation with responsibility in the AI landscape. Elon Musk announced plans to develop " Baby Grok ," a kid-friendly version of his xAI chatbot, following widespread criticism over Grok 's recent antisemitic posts and inappropriate content. The announcement comes as a stark contrast to Grok's reputation as one of the most unfiltered AI chatbots available, which has generated controversial responses including praise for Hitler, discriminatory remarks targeting specific communities, and is known to go unhinged on user's request multiple times. Unlike its parent application, Baby Grok is expected to feature robust content filtering, educational focus, and age-appropriate responses designed specifically for children. The move comes as a significant pivot for xAI, which has previously marketed Grok's "unfiltered" approach as a selling point against competitors like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini . Grok's troubled history with hate speech and controversial content Grok has established itself as perhaps the most problematic mainstream AI chatbot, with multiple incidents that underscore why a filtered version is necessary. In July 2025, the chatbot began calling itself "MechaHitler" and made antisemitic comments, including praising Hitler and suggesting he would "handle" Jewish people "decisively." The posts appear to be an official statement from xAI, the Elon Musk-led company behind Grok, as opposed to an AI-generated explanation for Grok's posts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Beyond hate speech, Grok has repeatedly spread election misinformation. In August 2024, five secretaries of state complained that Grok falsely claimed Vice President Kamala Harris had missed ballot deadlines in nine states and wasn't eligible to appear on some 2024 presidential ballots. The false information was "shared repeatedly in multiple posts, reaching millions of people" and persisted for more than a week before correction. Earlier incidents include Holocaust denial, promotion of "white genocide" conspiracy theories in South Africa in May 2025, with the chatbot inserting references even when questions were completely unrelated, and the creation of overly sexualized 3D animated companions. The chatbot previously had a "fun mode" described as "edgy" by the company and "incredibly cringey" by Vice, which was removed in December 2024. These controversies stem from Grok's design philosophy of not "shying away from making claims which are politically incorrect," according to system prompts revealed by The Verge. The platform's lack of effective content moderation has resulted in international backlash, with Poland planning to report xAI to the European Commission and Turkey blocking access to certain Grok features. How Baby Grok could be different from the regular Grok While Musk provided limited details about Baby Grok's specific features, the child-focused chatbot will likely implement comprehensive safety measures absent from the original Grok. Expected features include content filtering to block inappropriate topics, educational-focused responses, and simplified language appropriate for younger users. The chatbot may incorporate parental controls, allowing guardians to monitor interactions and set usage limits. Given Grok's history with generating offensive content, Baby Grok will presumably have stronger guardrails against hate speech, violence, and age-inappropriate material. Data protection will likely be another key differentiator, with potential restrictions on how children's conversations are stored or used for AI training purposes. This approach would align with growing regulatory focus on protecting minors' digital privacy. Google's already doing 'the AI chatbot for kids' with Gemini for Teens Google has already established a framework for AI chatbots designed for younger users with its Gemini teen experience, which could serve as a model for Baby Grok's development. Google's approach includes several safety features that xAI might adopt or adapt. Gemini for teens includes enhanced content policies specifically tuned to identify inappropriate material for younger users, automatic fact-checking features for educational queries, and an AI literacy onboarding process. Google partnered with child safety organizations like ConnectSafely and Family Online Safety Institute to develop these features. Additionally, Google's teen experience includes extra data protection, meaning conversations aren't used to improve AI models. Common Sense Media has rated Google's teen-focused Gemini as "low risk" and "designed for kids," setting a safety standard that Baby Grok would need to meet or exceed. What parents need to know about Baby Grok's development The development of Baby Grok represents a notable shift in xAI's approach to AI safety, particularly for younger users. While the original Grok was designed as an unfiltered alternative to other chatbots, Baby Grok appears to prioritize child safety and educational value above unrestricted responses. For parents considering AI tools for their children, Baby Grok's success will likely depend on several factors: the effectiveness of its content filtering systems, the quality of its educational content, and xAI's commitment to ongoing safety improvements. The company's acknowledgment of past issues and decision to create a separate child-focused platform suggests recognition of the need for different approaches when serving different age groups. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

Moto 360 could return in 2025 with a smarter look and smarter software
Moto 360 could return in 2025 with a smarter look and smarter software

Mint

timean hour ago

  • Mint

Moto 360 could return in 2025 with a smarter look and smarter software

Motorola seems ready to revive its most iconic wearable. The Moto 360, once seen as the crown jewel of Android Wear devices, is expected to return in 2025 with a new design and modern features. Renders leaked by Android Headlines reveal a smartwatch that holds on to the original round-faced appeal while introducing modern refinements. The stainless steel-like casing, circular bezel and rotatable crown bring back memories of the original design. However, this time, Motorola has opted for a more premium look with metal link bands and a neatly polished finish. The smartwatch also features a second button below the crown, much like some recent watches from Samsung and OnePlus. Software is where the 2025 Moto 360 could get interesting. Unlike its predecessors, the new model may feature two different operating modes. One is expected to be Google's Wear OS, offering support for apps, maps, and voice assistant features. The other is a real-time OS that helps stretch battery life by handling essential tasks like step counting, media control, and Bluetooth calling. This approach aims to combine power and efficiency, which has become a popular solution among smartwatch brands. With this dual-mode operation, users could enjoy both performance and extended usage without needing to recharge frequently. The history of the Moto 360 is one of early innovation followed by quiet absence. Launched in 2014, it was among the first smartwatches to adopt Android Wear. It brought a round display to the table when most competitors were still using square designs. A second version followed, but the line faded before making a return through licensing in 2019. The 2025 model signals a more direct involvement from Motorola. This time, the development is expected to happen in-house, reflecting a renewed interest in the wearables market. As for the operating system, the rumours remain mixed. While the device may include Wear OS, there is still no confirmation from Motorola. Past smartwatches from the brand have used its own lightweight operating systems for speed and battery efficiency. With the smartwatch market now dominated by Apple, Samsung, and Google, Motorola's success may depend on how well it balances style, software and battery life.

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