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Piquealso known as Pika Labs, was one of the first startups to unveil its own AI-powered video generation model, allowing users to simply enter text and receive video clips in return, which raised $35 million in Series A funding in November 2023 r.
But it’s been almost a year since Pika released its text-to-video artificial intelligence platform 1.0, and since then many competitors have emerged and/or updated their models to outclass Pika in terms of realism and the effects they can achieve, boss. among them Runway, which is found in the Alpha Turbo Gen-3 model, and Luma AI, which debuted as the Dream Machine 1.5 AI video model in August.
But not anymore: recognizing the relatively long (at least in the case of the artificial intelligence industry) period of peaceful, Pika announced today that they will be releasing Pika 1.5an updated version of its model that features stunning, physics-defying special effects, or “Pikafacts,” that can transform objects into strangely malleable versions of themselves.
These animated special effects are available by clicking a up-to-date button called Pikaeffects and include the following presets: Explode, melt, crush, inflate and “pile” – the latter essentially turns an image object into meme videos featuring very realistic prop cakes.
Pika 1.5 will automatically try to identify objects or objects in the video and apply the appropriate effect, even if it is not actually possible for that object or object to change in this way.
Some effects – namely crush, crush, and clump – actually place up-to-date props such as a hydraulic press, human hands, and a knife into the frame, while also allowing them to interact with objects in the still image and, therefore, the resulting video.
The results are often hilariously inconsistent but convincing, and Pikaffects turns the entire world into a playground of convincing yet surprising deformations.
It’s already gaining fans among AI video creators and early adopters
Already, early adopters of AI and video creators on for pursuing a radically different approach.
Starting today, both free and paid users can access this up-to-date version, unlocking a range of advanced features and artistic possibilities.
More improvements in all areas
Pika 1.5 promises significant improvements across the board, particularly in generating more powerful video clips in both image-to-video (i2v) and text-to-video (t2v) workflows.
Users can now create high-quality five-second clips of realistic movements such as running, skateboarding and even flying.
For those who want their creations to be truly cinematic, the platform has added up-to-date motion control features, allowing users to include advanced shots such as Bullet Time, Vertigo, Dolly Left and Crane Down.
This makes it effortless to capture active footage at a professional level without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
Paid users can continue to apply Pika 1.0 and its Lip Sync and AI sound effects
While Pika 1.5 offers a number of electrifying up-to-date features, paid users still have the option to switch between the older Pika 1.0 model and the up-to-date version.
Features like ElevenLabs-based Lip Sync, SoundFX, and the ability to expand and extend clips remain tied to Pika 1.0 for now.
The platform also makes it effortless to control camera movement, styles and effects directly via text prompts, providing greater artistic flexibility.
Prices remain unchanged, but the number of credits needed to make a video increases
The company confirmed that while subscription prices remain unchanged, each generation of a five-second clip will now require 15 credits, reflecting the up-to-date model’s increased demand for power and resources.
Users will notice that generation times are naturally longer with the Pika 1.5 model, although Pikaffects is designed to generate faster, offering a faster way to discover up-to-date possibilities.
Pika actively encourages users to experiment with Pika 1.5 by joining community challenges where participants can win free credits to apply on the platform. Points earned in these challenges are fully valid and can be used in the latest model. Additionally, users can share their opinions and report bugs through the platform’s feedback channels, which helps Pika continue to improve its tools.
With the release of Pika 1.5, users now have access to a more competent model for creating high-quality, active video content.
The addition of Pika’s effects, cinematic shots and realistic movements offers electrifying up-to-date possibilities for creators, regardless of their experience level, and is clearly already helping Pika stand out in an increasingly crowded and competitive AI video model space.