AI-generated “brain rot” videos are becoming a hot topic online, especially among younger audiences. These quirky clips feature odd characters, like a shark in sneakers and a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head.
One of the startups leading this trend is OpenArt, founded in 2022 by two former Google employees. The platform has attracted about 3 million active users each month.
Recently, OpenArt introduced a new feature called “one-click story.” It lets users create a one-minute video from just a sentence, a script, or even a song. This feature can cater to light-hearted TikTok stories or more serious content like explainer videos. OpenArt even sees potential for this tool in advertising.
The one-click option includes three templates: Character Vlog, Music Video, and Explainer. In the Character Vlog, users upload an image of their character and enter a prompt. If they upload a song, the software aligns animations with the lyrics, like showing flowers blooming in a garden.
Users can fine-tune their videos by returning to the storyboard mode to tweak prompts. OpenArt mixes more than 50 AI models, allowing creators to choose from tools like DALLE-3 and GPT.
This new feature aims to make it easier for anyone to become an AI creator. Yet, while the technology offers rapid content generation, it raises ethical questions. Issues include imitating artists’ styles, protecting intellectual property, and the potential for creating misinformation.
Concerns over copyright also loom large. Testing revealed that the Character Vlog can inadvertently suggest well-known characters like Pikachu or Super Mario, leading to possible legal trouble. In June, Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against Midjourney for similar reasons.
If users’ videos infringe on copyrights, social media platforms may remove them. Those who contribute to such violations can face legal action.
Coco Mao, OpenArt’s co-founder and CEO, explained, “We try to be cautious around IP infringement. We reject uploads of recognizable IP characters, but sometimes it slips through.” She added that the company is open to discussions with major IP holders for potential licensing.
OpenArt’s unique approach aims to ensure character consistency throughout a video. Unlike many models that struggle with this, OpenArt’s technology seeks to provide a cohesive viewing experience.
Looking to the future, OpenArt plans to enhance its one-click feature to allow dialogues between characters and is also developing a mobile app.
The company runs on a credit-based system, offering various subscription plans. The basic plan starts at $14 per month for 4,000 credits, allowing up to four one-click stories. Higher-tier plans provide more credits and options, indicating a rental model that aligns with user engagement.
Since its launch, OpenArt has raised $5 million in funding from investors like Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures, expecting an annual revenue of over $20 million.
As AI-generated content continues to grow, discussions around ethical use will remain vital. Balancing creativity with respect for original works is key in this fast-evolving landscape. For more insights on AI and ethics, you can check this report from the Pew Research Center.
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