• The Mahazine
  • Posts
  • 🔥 This week in AI: Midjourney Video is finally here, avatars, glasses and marketing.

🔥 This week in AI: Midjourney Video is finally here, avatars, glasses and marketing.

And more AI news in the creative industry.

Welcome to the mahazine newsletter #61

Trending AI stories, ads & marketing campaigns 👇

 âšˇď¸Ź News

Midjourney has finally launched their video feature that allows users to convert a single image into a 5-second video. Users can upload an image and optionally add a text prompt, enabling the AI to generate an animated sequence. This feature is currently available on the Midjourney website.

Users can select motion settings, including "Low Motion" and "High Motion," and adjust GPU speed and other parameters. Videos are produced in 480p quality. After the initial video is created, users can extend the video by an additional 4 seconds, with a maximum length of 21 seconds. The video generation process requires more GPU time, costing 8 times that of regular image generation.

Note: Relax generation is only available to Pro and Mega users.

TikTok Symphony has launched new generative AI tools aimed at helping marketers create TikTok-style videos more efficiently. The new features—Image to Video, Text to Video, and Showcase Products—enable users to transform static images and text prompts into engaging video clips. These tools are designed to enhance creativity, allowing brands to quickly prototype ideas, refresh existing assets, and highlight products through dynamic visuals.

The Image to Video feature allows marketers to convert product photos into videos with customizable backgrounds and effects, while Text to Video generates clips directly from text descriptions. Additionally, Showcase Products enables the use of digital avatars to interact with products in promotional videos. TikTok has also integrated Symphony's capabilities with platforms like Adobe Express and WPP Open, streamlining access for marketers.

Shutterstock has unveiled a comprehensive rebrand, featuring a new logo, updated typography, and a modernized website, as it shifts from a stock image provider to a broader creative partner. The rebranding aims to reflect its expanded capabilities, including content creation and generative AI services. The updated visual identity replaces the outdated viewfinder logo with a more contemporary design that symbolizes Shutterstock’s evolving mission.

In addition to the rebrand, Shutterstock is enhancing its commitment to generative AI with a new "Generative AI Pro" tier, allowing businesses to create high-quality visuals from text prompts using a combination of its own models and those from partners like OpenAI and Google. This initiative is part of Shutterstock's strategy to streamline the creative process for clients and leverage generative AI technologies, which contributed to a revenue increase, with $104 million in AI licensing deals reported in 2023.

👉 Baidu's AI livestream event achieves major success with $7.65 Million in sales

Baidu recently hosted a successful livestream event featuring AI-generated digital avatars, including a digital version of popular livestreamer Luo Yonghao. The event attracted over 13 million viewers and generated gross merchandise sales exceeding RMB 55 million (approximately $7.65 million). Luo and his partner Xiao Mu engaged with the audience for over six hours on Baidu's e-commerce platform, Youxuan, showcasing the potential of digital avatars in enhancing viewer interaction and driving sales.

This event is seen as a significant milestone for AI in the livestreaming industry, highlighting the growing acceptance of digital avatars in e-commerce. The AI avatars, created using Baidu’s generative model, allow for cost-effective livestreaming without the need for large production teams. While the technology has demonstrated success, challenges remain regarding compliance with platform regulations on virtual hosts. Experts believe that as acceptance grows, digital humans may expand their reach beyond China and into international markets.

Oakley has partnered with Meta to introduce a new line of Performance AI glasses, named Oakley Meta HSTN. This innovative product combines Oakley’s design with Meta’s technology, offering features such as hands-free video capture, integrated audio capabilities, and advanced AI assistance. The glasses aim to enhance athletes' performance by providing real-time insights and enabling users to share their experiences seamlessly.

The Oakley Meta HSTN glasses include a high-resolution camera, a long-lasting battery, and options with Oakley’s PRIZM™ Lens technology for improved visual clarity. The Limited Edition model will be available for preorder starting July 11 at $499, while the broader collection will launch later this summer starting at $399. This product line reflects Oakley's commitment to innovation as it evolves into the AI-driven consumer technology market, appealing to a wide range of athletes and sports enthusiasts.

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Adobe is showcasing how the convergence of creativity, marketing, and AI is transforming the industry. The company emphasizes the potential unlocked by its AI-powered tools, including Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express, which help users create personalized brand activations and immersive experiences. With significant usage statistics—over 25 billion assets created using Firefly and 83 of the Fortune 100 utilizing Adobe products—the company highlights its impact on performance and creativity.

Adobe's presence at the festival is fully powered by its own solutions, featuring Firefly-generated visuals in various demonstrations, including a Coca-Cola display. The Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes serves as a central hub for Adobe’s activities, showcasing creative works and interactive experiences. Additionally, Adobe Chair and CEO Shantanu Narayen will receive the inaugural Creative Champion of the Year Award, recognizing his contributions to accessibility and innovation in creative tools. Adobe also sponsors the Young Lions Competition, supporting the next generation of creative leaders.

đź‘€ Tool testing


We tested the new video feature from Midjourney, and here are our insights:

The video generation feature enables users to transform a single image into a 5-second video. You can upload new images or use existing ones, and there’s also an optional text prompt for manual mode. Users can select between Low Motion and High Motion settings, with videos produced in 480p quality. The initial video length is 5 seconds, but it can be extended by an additional 4 seconds, reaching a maximum total of 21 seconds.

Testing Results

In our review, we found the model to be quite impressive. It demonstrates a strong understanding of physics, effectively capturing shadows, wind effects, body movements, camera angles, and object reconstruction.

While it occasionally has some flaws, its overall performance is very strong. We believe this is one of the best video models available right now, and a major advantage is that you can create videos directly within Midjourney without changing your existing workflow.

Here are some of our tests:

🔥 New release

THE MAHAZINE (AI magazine for creatives) [Numero 5, Spring 2025]

Be part of the future creative movement.

The mahazine is your exclusive invitation to join the inner circle. It's a highly curated, insider's guide to mastering AI for creative professionals, with research knowledge and exclusive insights you need to not just survive, but to redefine the future of your creativity.

What awaits you inside?

✍️ Become a prompt master: Learn the secrets to crafting prompts that unlock the full potential of AI, turning your visions into reality.

🖼️ Master different AI tools: Harness the power of MidJourney drafts to create content on the go and GPT-4o new edit features.

🎨 AI Architecture secrets: Discover the tools and techniques that will transform your architecture design workflow, giving you an unbeatable competitive edge.

🔥 Discover the hottest AI trends: Get exclusive access to the most innovative and impactful AI campaigns, so you're always one step ahead.

🦜 Unique visual explorations: Immerse yourself in our captivating visual experiments about birds, spring, medievial art and more.

Crafted by creatives, for creatives. The mahazine is more than just a magazine; it's a movement. Join us and become part of something extraordinary.

Limited printed number available. Don't miss out.

Best,

The Mahazine Team

See you soon.

The mahazine Team.

Reply

or to participate.