TikTok's new AI feature turns static photos into animated stories

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TikTok has rolled out AI Alive, a new AI-powered feature that allows users to transform static images into animated short-form videos within TikTok Stories.

Available exclusively through TikTok's story camera, the feature gives creators access to editing tools that add movement, atmospheric effects, and sound to still photos. In a statement, the platform said the tool aims to help users, regardless of editing experience, create immersive, visually engaging content directly on the app.

Users can access AI Alive by tapping the story camera, selecting a photo, and using the new AI Alive icon on the editing screen. Once posted, the stories can appear on the 'For You' feed, 'Following' feed, or on a creator’s profile.

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To ensure transparency and safety, TikTok noted that all AI Alive content will include an AI-generated label and embedded metadata that follows the standards set by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).

The feature will also undergo multiple rounds of moderation, including reviews of the uploaded photo, prompts, and final video before posting.

"We're excited to see how creators embrace AI Alive to enhance storytelling, share authentic moments, and inspire creativity throughout the TikTok community," the platform said.

TikTok’s latest launch comes as major digital platforms increasingly experiment with AI to enhance user experiences. Earlier this month, Netflix rolled out a major redesign of its TV and mobile interfaces, including a conversational search tool powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT to improve content discovery.

In April, Instagram announced it would use AI to detect teens attempting to bypass age restrictions by lying about their age. The AI system proactively flags accounts suspected to belong to minors, even if they claim to be older, and places them into teen-specific account settings.

Meanwhile, Google has leaned on AI to enforce its ad policies, suspending over 39.2 million advertiser accounts and removing more than 5.1 billion ads in 2024. The company also restricted 9.1 billion ads and took action on over 1.3 billion publisher pages.

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