Skywork just launched Matrix-Game 2.0, introduced as the first open-source, real-time, long-sequence interactive world model. While DeepMind kept last week's Genie 3 behind closed doors, Skywork is making its model fully open-source, delivering 25FPS rendering and minutes-long interactions.
Perplexity just added AI video generation across its web, iOS, and Android platforms. Pro subscribers can create 5 videos per month, while Max users get 15 generations with enhanced visual quality. Why it matters: The AI search engine is moving fast from pulling text answers to generating full multimedia content.
Pika just unveiled a new audio-driven performance model that renders hyper-real facial expressions in near real-time. Any style or length of HD video can be ready in 6 seconds or less, running 20x faster and cheaper than before. It will soon roll out inside the Pika social app.
Midjourney just released an HD Video mode for its Pro and Mega subscribers. The new mode packs roughly 4x more pixels than the standard SD video output, though it will cost users about 3.2x more in compute credits. It is specifically aimed at professionals who need top-tier video quality.
Universal Pictures just started tagging end credits of its movies with explicit legal warnings barring tech companies from using them for AI training. The language, rolling out on films like How to Train Your Dragon, targets unauthorized duplication and data scraping as Hollywood braces for high-stakes copyright battles.
Google DeepMind just unveiled Genie 3, a general-purpose world model that generates interactive environments in real time at 24 fps and 720p from simple text prompts. It keeps scenes consistent for minutes and lets users prompt in-world events like weather shifts on the fly. It is currently rolling out as a limited research preview for select academics and creators.
Elon Musk's xAI just rolled out Grok Imagine to SuperGrok and X Premium+ subscribers on iOS. The tool whips up images in seconds and turns prompts into 15-second videos with native audio. True to Musk's ethos, it features a "spicy mode" that permits semi-nude content, though strict moderation still blocks overt explicit prompts and certain celebrity deepfakes.
Higgsfield AI just integrated MiniMax's Hailuo video model, unlocking unlimited free generations alongside a $20,000 creator challenge on Instagram. Creators can submit short AI-generated clips until August 17 to compete for top prizes. Why it matters: It completely removes credit barriers for creators eager to test-drive frontier AI video.
Fable just publicly launched Showrunner, an AI tool hyped as the Netflix of AI that turns text prompts into animated TV scenes and full episodes. Backed by fresh funding from Amazon's Alexa Fund, the service lets users direct story worlds or put themselves into shows, currently available for free via Discord.
Luma Labs just rolled out Modify with Instructions in Dream Machine, giving subscribers the ability to direct video edits using simple text prompts. Creators can select a keyframe, type modifications like changing an outfit or removing objects, and tune the intensity across three strength presets. It brings intuitive natural language VFX straight into the generative video pipeline.
Google just added Video Overviews to NotebookLM, turning your source docs into narrated, AI-generated slide presentations with relevant charts and quotes. The updated Studio panel also lets you generate and store multiple versions of audio, video, or mind maps in a single notebook while multitasking across them.
Yelp just launched AI-generated restaurant videos nationwide on its iOS app feed. The platform stitches user photos and clips with OpenAI-written scripts, ElevenLabs voiceovers, and Amazon captions to profile local spots. Business owners can't preview them yet, and users currently have no way to opt out of having their photos included.
Microsoft just started previewing Copilot Appearance in Copilot Labs, bringing a virtual avatar that smiles, nods, and reacts with real-time expressions. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman envisions an assistant with a permanent identity, its own virtual room, and a "digital patina" that ages over time. It's rolling out to select users in the US, UK, and Canada.
Midjourney just added custom start and end frame support to its AI video features, letting creators morph between two distinct images or produce seamless loops. The video workflow is now directly accessible inside the Discord bot as well, though the web interface remains the recommended experience.
Runway just rolled out Runway Aleph, a new in-context video model built for heavy-duty video manipulation. It allows creators to edit existing clips by adding or removing objects, changing camera angles, and adjusting lighting or style on the fly. The model is now available to all paid subscribers.
Elon Musk just announced plans to resurrect Vine, the six-second video app that once defined short-form social media, promising to bring it back "in AI form." Musk hasn't revealed what that actually means, though observers speculate it could feature AI-generated clips or Grok-powered editing tools. Why it matters: Short-form video dominates today's web, but whether nostalgic users want AI videos instead of human creators remains to be seen.
OpenAI is rolling out new personality presets for ChatGPT, letting users switch tone between a direct "Robot," a sarcastic "Cynic," and a supportive "Listener." A guided "Study Together" homework mode is also rolling out, while backend clues point to Sora 2 and GPT-5 testing ahead of DevDay.
Google just added new creation tools to Google Photos, letting users animate static gallery pictures into six-second video clips with a single tap. The update also introduces Remix to transform photos into anime or 3D animation styles, with SynthID digital watermarks applied to all outputs. Why it matters: It turns your personal camera roll from a passive archive into an interactive creative canvas.
Leonardo.Ai just launched Veo 3 Fast, allowing users to generate 8-second videos with sound at up to 1080p. The new model runs up to 3x faster than standard Veo 3, making it ideal for rapid ideation and testing, and is already rolled out to existing Leonardo plans.
Pika Labs just opened iOS early access for what it calls the first-ever AI-only social video app, powered by a new expressive human video model. After weeks of private beta testing, users can now download the app to join the waitlist or skip the line with limited invite codes.
