TikTok introduces AI feature that brings photos to life

TikTok has rolled out a new AI-powered feature called AI Alive, designed to animate still photos and turn them into short video clips using simple text prompts. Built directly into the app’s Story Camera, the tool allows users—regardless of their editing experience—to add motion, visual effects, and mood to their images with just a few taps.

To use the feature, users upload a photo and enter a prompt like “make this photo come alive.” TikTok’s AI then creates a short animated video, typically just a few seconds long. While early reactions are mixed—some styles, like anime-themed animations, still fall short—the tool shows promise in adding subtle movement and atmosphere to otherwise static pictures.

To address concerns around AI misuse, TikTok has implemented several safeguards. All content—including the original image, prompt, and the generated video—is reviewed before being shown to the user. A final moderation check is done before the video is published. Each output also comes labeled as AI-generated and includes embedded C2PA metadata to promote transparency.

AI Alive follows a series of experimental filters by TikTok, including the controversial “sway dance” effect, which previously drew criticism for inserting people who weren’t originally in the frame. While AI Alive avoids similar missteps for now, its debut continues to fuel conversations around the ethical boundaries of generative AI and visual manipulation.