TikTok has officially launched a groundbreaking AI-powered tool called “AI Alive,” enabling users to breathe life into static images by converting them into short-form videos using text prompts. The new feature is currently available exclusively within TikTok Stories and is designed to make video creation accessible for everyone, regardless of their editing expertise.

Turning Photos into Videos with a Prompt

Users can access AI Alive through the Story Camera on TikTok. Once a photo is selected, the tool prompts the user to describe how they want the video to appear, offering a default prompt like “make this photo come alive.” TikTok’s intelligent editing tools then use AI to apply movement, atmospheric elements, and creative visual effects, transforming the photo into a short animated video.

For example, a serene landscape photo featuring a sky, clouds, and ocean can become a dynamic scene where the sky shifts color, clouds drift, and waves crash—complete with sound effects. A group selfie could be animated to emphasize gestures and expressions, creating a more engaging piece of content.

A Step Beyond Text-to-Image AI

This launch marks a significant advancement beyond TikTok’s earlier text-to-image AI generator and places it ahead of competitors like Instagram and Snapchat, which currently offer only text-to-image features. Notably, Snapchat has also announced plans to introduce a similar AI video feature, but TikTok is first to market with an integrated image-to-video tool.

Safety and Transparency Features in TikTok AI Alive

TikTok has implemented several trust and safety measures to ensure responsible use of its AI Alive tool.

• Pre-review of content: Uploaded photos, text prompts, and generated videos are reviewed using moderation technology before being shown to the creator.
• Final safety check: A final moderation review is conducted before the video can be posted to a TikTok Story.
• AI labeling: All AI Alive videos are clearly marked as “AI-generated” and embedded with C2PA metadata for traceability, even when shared outside TikTok.
• User reporting: Users can report any AI-generated content they believe violates TikTok’s community guidelines.

How to Use TikTok AI Alive?

To create a video using AI Alive.

1. Open the Story Camera.
2. Tap the blue plus (+) button on the top of the Inbox or Profile page.
3. Choose a photo from your Story Album.
4. On the photo edit page, tap the AI Alive icon on the right-side toolbar.
5. Enter a creative prompt—or use the default—and let the AI work its magic.

Early Impressions and Limitations

In early testing, the tool generated videos within a few minutes, though they were only a few seconds long. While it performed well in many cases, it occasionally failed to accurately reflect prompts with more complex instructions, such as animating a cat in anime style. TikTok may continue refining these capabilities over time.

Despite its limitations, AI Alive is a strong step forward in AI-assisted creativity, allowing anyone to quickly produce visually compelling content.