The pulse of generative image & video AI.

DJI drew criticism after posting a TikTok advertisement featuring an AI-generated human avatar, a choice that did not sit well with its core audience of photographers and videographers. The ad has since been deleted, but not before sparking a broader conversation about the use of synthetic people in brand marketing. For a company whose products are built around capturing authentic human moments, the optics proved difficult.

Google has added two new features to its Vids tool in Workspace: Gemini Omni-powered editing assistance and personal avatars that let users appear in videos without recording themselves. Together, the updates expand what non-professional creators can do directly within Google's productivity suite.

Andrew Dai, a former DeepMind researcher whose work contributed to foundational AI systems, has raised funding at a $300 million pre-seed valuation without yet shipping a product. The round reflects the degree to which investor confidence in a founder's background can drive early-stage valuations in AI. Dai is focused on visual AI, which he sees as one of the next significant areas of development in the field.

xAI has filed a lawsuit against a user who allegedly exploited Grok's image generation capabilities to produce nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes of both adults and minors. The case marks a notable instance of an AI company taking direct legal action against a user for misuse of its own tools. It raises broader questions about platform liability, enforcement mechanisms, and the limits of generative AI safeguards.

Thinking Machines Lab has released Inkling, a 975B-parameter open-weights multimodal model built on a Mixture-of-Experts architecture that keeps only 41B parameters active at any given time. Licensed under Apache 2.0, it accepts text, image, and audio inputs and offers a 1M-token context window. Rather than competing for top benchmark rankings, the model is positioned as a customizable base with adjustable reasoning depth.

Reelful is a new app that uses AI to automatically assemble short-form social media videos from photos and clips already stored in a user's camera roll. It targets people who want to post regularly but find conventional editing software too demanding. The app handles sequencing, timing, and formatting without requiring any manual editing experience.

Google is integrating AI image generation directly into Search, using a new model called Nano Banana 2 Lite to produce images on the fly when no relevant result exists on the web. The feature will appear within AI Overviews and is set to roll out in the coming weeks.

An AI-generated adaptation of Homer's Odyssey is heading to screens around the same time as Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated live-action version, prompting pointed questions about the role of fully synthetic filmmaking in cinema. The comparison between the two projects throws into sharp relief what generative video tools can and cannot yet replicate. A PetaPixel writer argues the AI film is notably lacking in the human qualities that make storytelling resonate.

Google DeepMind used generative AI to reconstruct a 1959 Pelé goal for which no video footage survives. The project, documented in a short film, draws on historical accounts and AI image and video synthesis to visualize the legendary strike at Rua Javari. It offers a glimpse into how AI tools are being applied to cultural and historical preservation.

PixVerse, a startup focused on AI video generation, has closed a $439 million funding round that pushes its valuation above $2 billion. The company plans to use the capital to develop its world model capabilities and grow its presence in new markets. The raise reflects continued investor appetite for generative video infrastructure as competition in the space intensifies.

A new tutorial from MarkTechPost walks through building a VideoAgent-style multi-agent pipeline for video editing, requiring no API keys. The system chains together intent parsing, graph planning, and tool routing to handle natural-language video editing instructions end to end. Output ranges from question answering about video content to fully edited artifacts like beat-synced cuts.

ByteDance is preparing to launch Seedance 2.5, a video generation model capable of producing native 30-second clips. API access is expected to open around July 16 following earlier delays. Testing Catalog has shared early sample outputs ahead of the official release.

Meta has disabled an Instagram feature that allowed users to generate AI images by tagging public accounts, after swift and widespread criticism. The feature, tied to Meta's new Muse Image AI model, enabled anyone to use another account's content in AI-generated images without the account owner's consent. The company walked back the functionality just days after announcing it.

Ant Group's embodied-intelligence unit Robbyant has released LingBot-World-Infinity, a 14-billion-parameter causal video generation model designed to function as an interactive world simulator. The model pairs a novel attention mechanism with distillation over long rollout trajectories to address the texture and geometry degradation that typically plagues extended generation sessions. A two-tier agentic harness - separating high-level planning from rendering - enables a demonstrated 60-minute co

When photos purporting to show Taylor Swift's wedding circulated online last weekend, they were debunked faster than most previous high-profile AI image hoaxes. The episode is drawing attention not for the fakes themselves, but for how quickly audiences, journalists, and verification tools identified them as generated. It may signal a meaningful shift in how the public handles AI-fabricated imagery around major news events.

Meta has quietly opted all public Instagram accounts into its Muse Image AI training program, using posted photos without requiring any additional consent from users. If you would prefer your images not be used for this purpose, there is an opt-out process available - though it requires manual action on your part. Here is what you need to know to protect your content.

Character.AI is expanding its platform into short-form video with the launch of c.ai Series, episodic animated content built almost entirely with generative AI. The move positions the company within the fast-growing microdrama market, which is projected to reach $26 billion in the coming years. Unlike live-action microdrama platforms, c.ai Series lets viewers watch and interact with AI-generated animated stories on their phones.

ByteDance has introduced Seedream 5.0 Pro, its latest multimodal image generation model, bringing advanced reasoning capabilities alongside precise editing tools and multilingual support. The release marks a notable step forward in ByteDance's push into generative image AI. It positions Seedream as a more capable and flexible option for a range of creative and practical use cases.

Meta has rolled out Muse Image, its in-house image generation model, across its family of apps including Instagram Stories, where users can create visuals from text prompts. The company also offered an early preview of Muse Video, signaling its intent to extend the capability to moving images. The moves mark a significant step in Meta's effort to embed generative media tools directly into its social platforms.

A photograph appearing to show Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell in severe medical distress circulated widely this week before being identified as AI-generated. Google's deepfake detection system played a central role in debunking the image, marking a notable real-world application of the technology.

AI-powered image upscalers have matured to the point where enlarging a photo to 4K or 8K is largely a solved problem - the harder question now is whether the output still looks like a photograph. PetaPixel tested six leading tools to find out which ones preserve natural texture and which ones produce the telltale over-smoothed, plastic appearance. The results offer a practical guide for photographers choosing an upscaling workflow.

Google Photos has introduced Video Remix, a new AI-powered feature that automatically generates short, shareable clips from a user's existing photo and video library. The addition is the latest in a string of generative AI tools Google has been folding into the app over the past year. It continues the company's broader push to embed AI assistance across its consumer software lineup.

Google Photos has introduced Video Remix, a feature that turns existing video footage into polished, shareable clips with minimal effort. Using a few taps, the tool automatically selects highlights and applies edits to produce a finished video. It is designed to lower the barrier between raw footage and content worth sharing.

Google has introduced a Video Remix feature for its AI subscription tier, letting users transform videos stored in Google Photos using Gemini Omni. The tool offers a way to creatively reimagine existing footage rather than generating video from scratch. It represents Google's latest step in embedding generative AI capabilities directly into its consumer product ecosystem.

Meta's Superintelligence Labs division has released its first image generation model, now rolling out across Instagram, WhatsApp, and the Meta AI app. One of its more notable features is the ability to generate images drawing from the content of any public Instagram profile. The move marks Meta's first significant push into first-party generative image tools at scale.

Meta's Superintelligence Labs has released Muse Image, its first image generation model, which operates as an agent capable of refining its outputs through tools like code execution and web search. A standout feature allows users to generate images of real people by tagging their public Instagram profiles - without those individuals' consent. The opt-out approach is drawing scrutiny for its likely conflict with European privacy regulations.

A growing number of social media influencers are using generative AI tools to fabricate the appearance of wealth - private jets, luxury hotels, and designer goods - without ever leaving home. Meanwhile, AI-generated fake products, including photorealistic flowers that don't exist, have flooded marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. The trend points to a broader and largely unregulated use of image AI to deceive consumers.

NVIDIA's Cosmos 3 world models are powerful but demand hardware well beyond a typical laptop or free cloud notebook. This tutorial bridges that gap by building a compact, Colab-compatible stand-in that mirrors the real framework's structure - using an omnimodal Mixture-of-Transformers to jointly model text, vision, and action. It offers a hands-on way to understand how Cosmos 3 operates without needing access to the full model checkpoints.

Meta has built an AI detection tool designed to identify images and video generated by its own models. The tool comes with rate limits, an unusual design choice that raises questions about its intended scope and accessibility. It represents Meta's latest step toward addressing the growing challenge of synthetic media attribution.

Meta has launched Muse Image, a new AI image generator with applications spanning advertising, home decorating, and creator tools. The rollout has already drawn criticism from users concerned about how their photos may be used to train or power the system. It is the latest step in Meta's ongoing push to embed generative AI across its platforms.

Director Jon Erwin, known for faith-based productions like "House of David," is openly integrating AI tools into his filmmaking workflow through his production company Innovative Dreams. In an interview with IndieWire, he argues that transparency about AI use is essential, and that the technology can protect jobs rather than eliminate them. His perspective offers a grounded counterpoint to the anxiety surrounding AI's role in Hollywood.

Meta has introduced a new image generation model called Muse that can take an Instagram account as a prompt, drawing on a user's posted content to inform the style and subject of generated images. The model is also being integrated into Instagram Stories effects and WhatsApp's image generation feature. It marks a notable shift in how personal social media history can be used as creative input for AI tools.

Meta has introduced Muse Image, the first AI image generation model from its Superintelligence Labs division, now powering image tools across Meta AI, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The model includes a notable social feature that lets users pull other Instagram accounts into generated images, raising immediate questions about consent and misuse. It is also described as "agentic," working alongside a large language model to reason through prompts before generating output.

Midjourney is pushing to compel major Hollywood studios to disclose how they use AI tools internally, framing the effort as a response to what it sees as a double standard. The studios have been vocal critics of AI companies while allegedly relying on similar technology behind the scenes. The legal and industry implications could be significant for both sides of the ongoing AI and entertainment debate.

ByteDance's AI video tool Seedance has drawn the Motion Picture Association's first-ever cease-and-desist against an AI company, triggered by a viral clip featuring AI-generated likenesses of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. At the same time, industry insiders report that studios are quietly using the tool on a "don't ask, don't tell" basis - a contradiction that highlights the tension between Hollywood's public stance on generative AI and its private adoption of it.

ByteDance is preparing to launch Seedance 2.5, the next version of its Dreamina-based video generation model, in July. The update's headline feature is the ability to produce AI-generated video clips of up to three minutes in length - a notable increase over what most current models offer. The longer output window could open up more practical use cases for creators working on short-form content.

Midjourney is pushing three Hollywood studios to disclose the specifics of their own AI use as part of an ongoing legal dispute. The move shifts scrutiny onto the studios themselves, raising questions about how openly the entertainment industry has been about its internal adoption of generative AI tools.

Midjourney has filed a legal request asking a court to compel Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal to disclose how they use AI internally. The move comes as part of the ongoing copyright lawsuit the studios brought against the image generation company. Midjourney appears to be building a case that the studios themselves are not strangers to the technology they are suing over.

Kuaishou has secured roughly $2 billion in outside investment for Kling, its generative AI video division, as it prepares for a public listing in Hong Kong. The fundraise signals growing investor appetite for AI video technology and positions Kling as a well-capitalized competitor in an increasingly crowded field. The move also reflects a broader trend of Chinese AI companies seeking public market validation.

Google's NotebookLM is gaining a short-video format that distills uploaded research into 60-second vertical clips, styled after the kind of content common on TikTok. The feature is rolling out to AI Ultra and Pro subscribers and pairs AI-generated narration with paper cutout-style visuals. It joins an existing set of NotebookLM output formats that already includes AI podcasts, cinematic videos, and visual explainers.

NoimosAI has introduced Creative Agent, a tool designed to generate brand assets by drawing on patterns identified in high-performing market creatives. The system aims to ground visual output in data rather than purely open-ended generation. It positions itself as a practical option for teams looking to align creative production with proven market signals.

Google has released Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash, two new models aimed at image generation and video editing respectively. Nano Banana 2 Lite is positioned as Google's fastest and most cost-efficient image model, while Gemini Omni Flash brings high-quality video output and conversational editing capabilities. Both models are now available for developers to build with.

Spotting an AI-generated face used to be straightforward - look for a mangled ear, an extra finger, or eyes that didn't quite line up. In 2026, those obvious tells have largely disappeared, and the conventional wisdom about how to detect synthetic faces needs revisiting. PetaPixel examines what the research and current tools actually say about identifying AI-generated portraits today.

Proton has updated its Lumo chatbot with image generation and editing capabilities, marking a significant expansion of the privacy-focused AI assistant. The upgrade brings visual creative tools to a platform that distinguishes itself by keeping user data away from ad networks and third-party trackers. For users already in the Proton ecosystem, Lumo now offers a more complete AI workspace without sacrificing the company's data privacy commitments.

Google is expanding Personal Intelligence features in the Gemini app, allowing it to draw on data from Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube, and Search to generate images and content that feel more relevant to individual users. The expansion brings these personalized capabilities to a broader audience, with user permission as a prerequisite. It marks a notable step in Google's effort to make generative AI outputs feel less generic and more grounded in a person's actual context.

A24, long regarded as a standard-bearer for artistically ambitious cinema, is facing sharp criticism from its own fanbase after announcing a $75 million partnership with Google DeepMind to develop AI workflow tools. While the backlash has been vocal, industry observers largely expect the company to weather it without lasting damage. The deal has nonetheless raised pointed questions about what the studio's brand identity actually stands for.

Ali Ghodsi's successor at Databricks has launched a startup claiming its approach to AI inference can reduce energy consumption by a factor of 1,000. The company's first public demonstration, an image-generation system called Un-0, aims to show that its underlying technology can match the output of conventional AI systems at a fraction of the power cost. If the claims hold up under scrutiny, the implications for data center energy demand could be significant.

Adobe has acquired Topaz Labs, the company behind a suite of AI-powered image and video enhancement tools. Adobe says it plans to integrate Topaz Labs' technology across its existing applications. The deal brings a well-regarded set of upscaling, sharpening, and noise-reduction tools under Adobe's umbrella.