TikTok has unveiled “AI Alive,” a  feature that transforms static images into animated videos using the magic of AI. This latest addition to the platform’s creative toolkit allows users to transform their cherished photos into gently animated clips with just a few taps.

“We all know a photo can say a thousand words,” TikTok explains in their announcement, “and TikTok aims to take this new form of visual storytelling even further.” It’s a sentiment that resonates in our increasingly visual-first social world, where capturing attention requires that extra special something.

What makes this particularly interesting is the timing. As Instagram works on similar functionality for its “Edits” app (their answer to TikTok’s CapCut), we’re witnessing a fascinating race to innovation. Rather than simply copying competitors’ features, platforms are now trying to anticipate and leapfrog each other’s next moves.

Using the feature is refreshingly straightforward: tap the blue “+” in your Inbox or Profile page, select a photo from your Story Album, and watch the AI work its magic. Once live, your animated creation appears in the For You and Following feeds, as well as on your profile, giving your digital storytelling maximum visibility.

Whether this becomes a passing novelty or a permanent fixture in our digital creative arsenal remains to be seen.

You can read more here.