Latest news with #Sora
India Today
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Midjourney launches V1 AI video generation model right after Disney accuses it of plagiarism
Midjourney, the AI startup famous for its surreal image generation tools, is making a bold leap into video. Recently, the company unveiled V1, its long-awaited video-generation model that promises to breathe life into your static images. It's a big move for Midjourney as it throws the company into direct competition with other big-hitters like OpenAI, Runway, Adobe and Google.V1 is designed as an image-to-video model, allowing users to transform either their own uploaded pictures or Midjourney's AI-generated images into short five-second video clips. Like its sibling image models, V1 is only accessible via Discord for now and is web-only at launch. advertisementAnd it's not just videos Midjourney has in its sights. In a blog post, CEO David Holz set out some pretty ambitious goals for the company's AI, saying V1 is just the next stepping stone toward real-time 'open-world simulations.' The company also revealed its plans to branch into 3D renderings and real-time generative models down the line. While Midjourney's image tools have long appealed to artists and designers, the company has taken a slightly different tack with video. Many of its rivals — such as Sora by OpenAI, Runway's Gen-4, Firefly by Adobe and Veo 3 by Google — are going after commercial filmmakers and studios with highly controllable AI tools. Midjourney, however, is positioning itself as more of a creative playground for those looking for something a little more V1 AI video generation model: Pricing and availabilityadvertisementDespite this, Midjourney is pushing ahead. Video generation doesn't come cheap, though. V1 consumes eight times more credits per clip than Midjourney's still-image tools, so subscribers will burn through their monthly allowances far faster. At launch, Basic subscribers — who pay $10 (around Rs 866) per month — can access V1, but unlimited video generation is limited to the $60 (around Rs 5,200) Pro and $120 (approximately Rs 10,400) Mega plans, and only on the 'Relax' mode, which produces videos more slowly. However, the company says it will review this pricing structure in the coming weeks as it gathers feedback from for the tools themselves, V1 offers a surprising level of control. You can opt for an 'auto' mode that lets the AI generate motion for you or a 'manual' mode that accepts text prompts to dictate exactly how you want your animation to move. Plus, there are settings for adjusting movement intensity — 'low motion' if you want subtle shifts, or 'high motion' for more energetic effects. Clips last five seconds by default but can be extended up to 21 seconds in four-second accuses Midjourney of plagiarismThat said, Midjourney is entering the video arena under a legal cloud. Only a week ago, Disney and Universal sued the startup over its image-generation models, claiming they can produce unauthorised versions of famous characters like Darth Vader and Homer Simpson. It's part of a growing backlash across Hollywood as studios grow nervous about AI tools replacing human creatives — and AI companies face questions about training data and copyright examples of V1's output suggest Midjourney is sticking to its trademark surreal aesthetic rather than aiming for hyper-realism, the sort of style that fans of the platform have come to love. The initial reaction from users has been mostly positive so far, though it's still too early to tell how V1 will stack up against more established players like Runway and Sora.
Business Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
JPMorgan, Macquarie bet on S-Reits amid falling borrowing costs, MAS mandates
[SINGAPORE] Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) could gain from falling interest rates, particularly those with a domestic focus, as well as The Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) initiatives, reports from JPMorgan and Macquarie indicated. This comes as declines in various interest rates, such as the Singapore Overnight Rate Average (Sora) and treasury bills, have lowered borrowing costs, providing upsides for S-Reits, JPMorgan reported on Sunday (Jun 15). 'We believe this should generate upside for Singapore-focused Reits or stocks with resilient cashflows or leveraged balance sheets,' JPMorgan analysts said. Tariff risks, a weakened greenback, export front-loading, lowered commodity prices, capital inflows and monetary easing are among the factors that have spurred sharp falls in Singapore interest rates, they added. They pointed to Singapore-focused S-Reits with a larger share of Singapore dollar debt as prime beneficiaries of declines in Sora. With revenue growth, such S-Reits could get distribution per unit (DPU) improvements, the analysts said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up However, overseas-focused S-Reits or those more exposed to trade have clocked year-on-year declines in DPU with savings from Singdollar debt being offset by vacancies, foreign exchange headwinds and higher costs from refinancing low-priced overseas debt. A Macquarie Capital report dated Jun 16 also named some S-Reits, in addition to stocks, as potential winners from new MAS initiatives. Macquarie mentioned the central bank's Equity Market Development Programme that is set to channel S$5 billion to local fund managers, and other private capital to be injected into other mandates. Domestic-focused S-Reits win on lowered rates, borrowing costs CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, CapitaLand Ascendas Reit (Clar), Keppel Data Centre Reit (KDCReit), Frasers Centrepoint Trust were among JPMorgan's top picks for S-Reits. Its top picks were Parkway Life Reit (PReit), Clar and KDCReit, which is set to join the Straits Times Index on Jun 23. Jayden Vantarakis, head of Asean Equity Research at Macquarie Capital, highlighted that PReit as a possible beneficiary. It has had an 'impeccable track record of steady growth since (its) initial public offering without raising funds' while facing limited downside risks, he said. Vantarakis said: 'We expect a rare quantum leap of PReit's Singapore rental growth in FY2026 once enhancements to Mount Elizabeth Orchard Hospital are completed.' Bank profits may suffer but fund inflows stay strong Broad monetary easing poses a 'significant headwind' for Singapore banks' profitability as it could lower net interest margin (NIM), JPMorgan said. The investment banking group foresees a 12 basis point year-on-year compression in NIM for 2025, with another 10 basis points for 2026. However, lowered rates have also accelerated flows into Singapore-dedicated funds over the past 12 months, mitigating the blow. Given this, JPMorgan analysts remained neutral on the sector. 'While banks will bear the brunt of lower interest rates, we believe the sector could still be supported by resilient yields and strong inflows from domestic funds subscriptions,' they said. MAS' S$5 billion inflow to give small- to mid- caps a short-run boost The S$5 billion inflow from the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Equity Market Development Programme could lead small- to mid- cap stocks to outperform in the short-run, JPMorgan said. As part of Singapore's equity market reform, the scheme aims to channel S$5 billion to fund managers focused on Singapore listed equities and to broaden investor participation beyond large-cap stocks. It prioritises funds with a higher weighting in small- to mid- cap stocks. However, a 'significant outperformance' over large cap stocks is unlikely, given higher multiples, uncertain profitability and lower liquidity and growth of such stocks. 'In our view, stocks with a good track record of earnings growth and quality balance sheets would attract additional flows,' JPMorgan analysts said. Quality mid-cap stocks and those with upside potential from asset recycling stand to be key beneficiaries, the investment banking group added.
Engadget
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Midjourney adds AI video generation
AI company Midjourney has released its first video model. This initial take on AI-generated video will allow users to animate their images, either ones made in Midjourney or uploaded from a different source. The initial results will be five-second clips that a user can opt to extend by four seconds up to four times. Videos can be generated on web only for now and require at least a $10 a month subscription to access. Introducing our V1 Video Model. It's fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at 10$/month, it's the first video model for *everyone* and it's available now. — Midjourney (@midjourney) June 18, 2025 Midjourney was one of the early names in the space for AI-generated still images, even as other platforms have pushed the forefront of the discussions around artificial intelligence development. Google's latest I/O conference included several new tools for AI generated video, such as the text-to-video Veo 3 model and a tool for filmmakers called Flow . OpenAI's Sora, which debuted last year, is also a text-to-video option, while the more recent Firefly Video Model from Adobe can create video from a text or image prompt. But being a little late to the video game hasn't stopped it from drawing the ire of creatives who allege that its models were trained illegally. In fact, this video announcement follows hot on the heels of a lawsuit against the company. Disney and NBCUniversal sued Midjourney last week on claims of copyright infringement. And as with any AI tool, there's always a potential for misuse. But Midjourney has nicely asked that people "please use these technologies responsibly" so surely nothing will go wrong.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Midjourney video generation is here — but there's a problem holding it back
Midjourney, one of the oldest and best-known AI image generators, is taking a new direction. Following in the footsteps of its competitors, Midjourney is now also offering AI video generation. Known as V1 Video, this new model allows users to upload an image or use an image generated by Midjourney's V7 image generator, creating a set of short videos from it. Announced in a post on X and a blog post, David Holz, Midjourney CEO, stated, 'Introducing our V1 Video Model. It's fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at $10/month, it's the first video model for *everyone* and it's available now.' Unlike some of the other competitors in the AI video world, Midjourney can't make a video from a prompt alone. While this will likely change in the future, it does put Midjourney a few steps behind the likes of Sora and Kling 2. Introducing our V1 Video Model. It's fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at 10$/month, it's the first video model for *everyone* and it's available now. 18, 2025 Launching the product, the Midjourney CEO went on to explain, 'Today's Video workflow will be called 'Image-to-Video'. This means that you still make images in Midjourney, as normal, but now you can press 'Animate' to make them move.' There is an automatic animation setting that will create a random motion prompt for you. For those wanting more control, there is also the option to manually choose an animation move for the video. When generating a video, you can choose if it is low or high motion (how much movement happens in the video). Once the video is created, you can extend it, adding four seconds at a time. You can do this up to four times. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. While you can add images from outside of Midjourney to animate, Holz added, 'We ask that you please use these technologies responsibly. Properly utilized, it's not just fun, it can also be really useful, or even profound - to make old and new worlds suddenly alive.' This lines up with Midjourney's recent legal battle with Disney, raising concerns over the use of external copyright in the training model. As mentioned above, you can currently use Midjourney V1 on the $10 per month plan. However, that could well change pretty soon. 'The actual costs to produce these models and the prices we charge for them are challenging to predict,' Holz added in the announcement post. 'We're going to do our best to give you access right now, and then over the next month, as we watch everyone use the technology (or possibly entirely run out of servers) we'll adjust everything to ensure that we're operating a sustainable business.' The problem is that the starting cost is already much higher than an image. Midjourney will be charging 8x more for a video creation than for an image. While that is still less than the average competitor, that amount is likely to change. While you can make videos on the cheapest plan, they will quickly eat up your credits. There will also be a slower but less expensive version of video generation available on the Pro model.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Google Veo 3: Creative Breakthrough or Crisis for Journalism?
Published : Jun 18, 2025 18:51 IST - 5 MINS READ Launched in May 2025 at Google's annual I/O developer conference, Google Veo 3 is the tech giant's direct challenge to Microsoft-backed OpenAI's video generation model, Sora. Developed by Google DeepMind, the advanced model marks a major leap in generative AI, promising high-quality, realistic video creation from text or image prompts. But in an age flooded with misinformation and deepfakes, a tool like Veo 3—with its ability to produce lifelike video and synchronised audio—raises pressing questions for journalism. It opens new creative possibilities, yes, but also invites serious challenges around credibility, misuse, and editorial control. What is Google Veo? Veo 3 touts itself as a 'cutting-edge tool' offering 'unmatched realism, audio integration, and creative control'. It comes at a high price—$249.99/month under the AI Ultra plan—and is currently available in the US and 71 other countries, excluding India, the EU, and the UK. Ethical concerns loom, but Google pitches Veo as a powerful resource for filmmakers, marketers, and developers. According to Google, Veo 3 can generate 4K videos with realistic physics, human expressions, and cinematic style. Unlike many competitors, it also produces synchronised audio—dialogue, ambient noise, background music—adding to the illusion of realism. Also Read | When AI breaks the law, who gets arrested—the bot or its maker? The model is designed to follow complex prompts with precision, capturing detailed scenes, moods, and camera movements. Users can specify cinematic techniques like drone shots or close-ups, and control framing, transitions, and object movement. A feature called 'Ingredients' allows users to generate individual elements—like characters or props—and combine them into coherent scenes. Veo can also extend scenes beyond the frame, modify objects, and maintain visual consistency with shadows and spatial logic. Google's website features examples of Veo in action, including projects in marketing, social media, and enterprise applications. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky used it to create a short film, Primordial Soup. On social media, AI artists have released viral Veo clips like Influenders, a satire featuring influencers at the end of the world. Veo 3 is integrated into Google's AI filmmaking tool Flow, which allows intuitive prompting. Enterprise access is available via Vertex AI, while general users in supported countries can use it through Google's Gemini chatbot. The journalism dilemma Veo's features raise alarms about potential misuse. It could facilitate the creation of deepfakes and false narratives, further eroding trust in online content. There are also broader concerns about its economic impact on creators, legal liabilities, and the need for stronger regulation. The risks are not theoretical. As highlighted in a June 2025 TIME article, titled 'Google's Veo 3 Can Make Deepfakes of Riots, Election Fraud, Conflict', Veo was used to generate realistic footage of fabricated events—like a mob torching a temple or an election official shredding ballots—paired with false captions designed to incite unrest. Such videos could spread rapidly, with real-world consequences. Cybersecurity threats—like impersonating executives to steal data—are also plausible, alongside looming copyright issues. TIME reported that Veo may have been trained on copyrighted material, exposing Google to lawsuits. Meanwhile, Reddit forums cite personal harms, such as a student jailed after AI-generated images were falsely attributed to them. There is also the threat to livelihoods. AI-generated content could displace human creators, particularly YouTubers and freelance editors, accelerating what some call the 'dead internet'—a space overrun by AI-generated junk media. To mitigate risk, Google claims that all Veo content includes an invisible SynthID watermark, with a visible one in most videos (though it can be cropped or altered). A detection tool for SynthID is in testing. Harmful or misleading prompts are blocked, but troubling content has still emerged, highlighting the limits of guardrails. What should newsrooms do? Despite the risks, Veo presents compelling opportunities for journalism—particularly for data visualisation, explainer videos, recreating historical events, or reporting on under-documented stories. It can help small newsrooms produce professional-quality videos quickly and affordably, even for breaking news. Used responsibly, Veo could improve storytelling—turning eyewitness accounts of a disaster into a visual narrative, for instance, or transforming dry data into cinematic sequences. Prototyping ideas before committing to full production becomes more feasible, especially for digital-first outlets. But Veo's strengths are also its dangers. Its ability to produce convincing footage of events that never happened could destabilise the information ecosystem. If deepfakes flood the news cycle, real footage may lose credibility. The visible watermark is easily removed, and Google's SynthID Detector remains limited in scope, giving malicious actors room to operate undetected. To maintain public trust, newsrooms must clearly disclose when content is AI-generated. Yet the temptation to pass off fabricated visuals as real—especially in competitive, high-pressure news environments—will be strong. And because AI outputs reflect their training data, biases could sneak in, requiring rigorous editorial scrutiny. There is also the human cost. Veo's automation could eliminate roles for video editors, animators, and field videographers, especially in resource-strapped newsrooms. Journalists may need to learn prompt engineering and AI verification just to stay afloat. Also Read | AI is changing work, privacy, and power—what comes next? The legal landscape is murky. If an outlet publishes an AI-generated video that causes harm, accountability is unclear. Ownership of Veo-generated content also remains opaque, raising potential copyright disputes. And then there is the burden of verification. Fact-checkers will face a deluge of synthetic content, while reporters may find their own footage treated with suspicion. As the Pew Research Center reported in 2024, three in five American adults were already uneasy about AI in the newsroom. A critical juncture As Veo and tools like it become cheaper and more widely available, their impact on journalism will deepen. The challenge is not simply to resist the tide but to adapt—ethically, strategically, and urgently. According to experts, newsrooms must invest in training, transparency, and detection tools to reap the creative rewards of AI while safeguarding credibility. Innovation and trust must evolve together. If journalism is to survive this next phase of disruption, it must do so with eyes wide open, they say. (Research by Abhinav Chakraborty)
