TikTok releases new AI-powered image-to-video feature

What is TikTok?

Tik Tok is a short-form video app that allows users to create and share fun content with added filters, music, animation and more.

LOS ANGELES - TikTok is bringing photos to life with the launch of AI Alive, a new tool that lets users animate their static images into immersive short-form videos using artificial intelligence.

Unveiled Tuesday, AI Alive is available exclusively in TikTok Stories, and marks the platform’s first AI-powered photo-to-video creation feature. It’s designed to help users of all skill levels craft cinematic, atmospheric clips directly from their photo albums—no advanced editing needed.

How does TikTok AI Alive work?

The backstory:

To use the feature, creators simply open the Story Camera by tapping the blue "+" icon from the Inbox or Profile page, choose a photo from their Story Album, and select the AI Alive icon in the editing toolbar. The AI then animates the image with subtle movement, visual transitions, and ambient sound effects, turning simple snapshots into engaging moments.

TikTok says AI Alive can create anything from moving landscapes—like sunsets with shifting clouds and wave sounds—to expressive group selfies that capture nuanced gestures and facial animations.

Is the content labeled as AI-generated?

Dig deeper:

Yes. All videos made with AI Alive will include an AI-generated label and C2PA metadata—a technology that allows others to identify that content was created using AI, even if it’s downloaded or reshared off TikTok. This move aligns with growing industry efforts to increase transparency and trust in digital media.

FILE - In this photo illustration, the social media application logo, Tik Tok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on March 05, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

The company says each creation undergoes multiple layers of moderation, including analysis of both the original photo and any AI generation prompts. The video is reviewed again before posting, and users can report content that violates TikTok’s policies.

Why is TikTok introducing this now?

What's next:

With over 1 billion users, TikTok continues to expand its creative tools to stay ahead in the competitive short-form content space. AI Alive follows a trend of AI-enhanced creativity across social media, offering a way to deepen storytelling and spark inspiration in daily moments.

TikTok says the tool is part of its commitment to making "creativity more accessible," empowering anyone to become a creator—even without prior editing experience.