AI startup Midjourney announced the launch of an AI-powered video generation tool, V1. The tool generates videos from user-uploaded images or images generated by one of Midjourney’s models.
Users can modify aspects of the video, such as adding animation features or adjusting the motion of the camera or objects. The generated videos are five seconds long, and can be extended to up to 20 seconds.
V1 is available at $10/month with Midjourney’s Basic plan. It is also offered to Pro and Mega users.
According to Midjourney, the production costs about 3 to 5 cents per image. This service, the company said, is 25 times cheaper than other existing AI video generation software.
AI video generation tools have grown in recent months, with tech companies like OpenAI, Google, and Adobe releasing upgrades to their respective models. Last week Adobe Firefly created an app for iOS and Android to make its services more easily accessible.
The company plans to expand its video generation tools and release 3D rendering tools in the future.
Copyright Concerns
Midjourney’s release of V1 comes during a copyright lawsuit brought by Disney and Universal. The entertainment companies sued Midjourney for its unauthorised use of famous characters such as Homer Simpson and Darth Vader.
The expansion of AI creative tools has sparked concern among artists, who fear that the effortlessness of AI-generated art production will devalue their own work. Many creators have also expressed fears around AI developers using their content to train AI models without their permission.
Midjourney chief executive officer, David Holz, previously said that the startup’s tools are beneficial for artists who can try new techniques and explore other styles.
“These technologies actually create a much deeper appreciation and literacy in the visual medium,” Holz said in 2022. “You might actually have the demand, outstrip the ability to produce at that level, and then maybe you’ll actually be raising the salaries of artists. It could be weird, but that’s what’s going to happen.”
