TikTok’s parent company releases Jimeng AI video generator

Jimeng AI, a new text-to-video generation tool, has been launched by ByteDance’s Faceu Technology. This move puts ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, in direct competition with OpenAI’s Sora and other Chinese tech firms in the growing market of AI-powered video creation.

The launch of Jimeng AI comes at a time when numerous Chinese companies are developing and releasing similar tools to the public. This trend was sparked by OpenAI’s unveiling of Sora in February 2024, although Sora itself is not yet available for public use.

ByteDance’s decision to enter this market with Jimeng AI shows the company’s recognition of the growing demand for AI-generated video content.

A closer look at Jimeng AI features

Jimeng AI operates under ByteDance’s Jianying business unit, which is best known for its video editing app CapCut. This connection to an established video editing tool suggests that Jimeng AI may benefit from the expertise and user base already associated with CapCut.

The integration of AI-powered video generation with existing video editing capabilities could create a powerful combination for content creators.

Jimeng AI offers users the ability to generate both images and videos based on text prompts. This dual functionality sets it apart from some competitors that focus solely on video generation. The tool allows users to create approximately 2,050 images or 168 AI-generated videos per month, depending on their subscription plan.

The video generation feature of Jimeng AI allows users to input text descriptions to create short video clips. While specific details about the length and resolution of these videos are not provided, the technology likely produces short-form content suitable for platforms like TikTok and other social media networks.

Jimeng AI’s image generation capabilities complement its video features, allowing users to create still images that can be used independently or incorporated into video projects.

The integration of Jimeng AI with ByteDance’s existing video editing tools, particularly CapCut, could provide users with a seamless workflow for creating, editing, and enhancing AI-generated content.

While specific information about the AI model powering Jimeng AI is not provided, it’s likely that ByteDance has leveraged its extensive experience in video processing and machine learning to develop a robust text-to-video generation system.

Although it gets the criticism bombardment from time to time, the company’s access to vast amounts of video data through platforms like TikTok could potentially give Jimeng AI an edge in generating realistic and engaging content.

Initially released for Android on July 31, Jimeng AI is now available on the Apple App Store in China.

How about the Jimeng AI pricing plans?

ByteDance has implemented a subscription-based model for Jimeng AI, offering users various options to access the tool’s features. The pricing structure includes three main tiers:

• Monthly subscription: Priced at 69 yuan ($9.65), this option provides users with regular access to Jimeng AI’s features on a month-to-month basis.
• Single-month option: For users who may only need the service for a short period, there’s a single-month option available at 79 yuan.
• Annual plan: For long-term users, ByteDance offers an annual subscription priced at 659 yuan, which may provide better value for frequent users of the service.

The pricing model appears to be designed to cater to different user needs and budgets.

Chinese tech companies race to launch text-to-video models

The introduction of Jimeng AI is part of a larger trend among Chinese tech companies rushing to develop and release text-to-video models. This surge in activity shows the growing importance of AI-generated video content in the Chinese tech sector and beyond.

Kuaishou, another major player in China’s video app market, recently made its Kling AI text-to-video model available to a global audience. The beta version of Kling AI can be accessed worldwide with just an email address for registration, potentially giving it a wider reach than some of its competitors.

Other Chinese companies have also entered the fray. Zhipu AI, a startup in the artificial intelligence space, introduced its video-generating model called Ying last month. Shortly after, another startup named Shengshu officially launched its Vidu app, further crowding the market for AI-generated video tools.

This flurry of activity in the Chinese tech sector shows the high level of interest and investment in AI-powered video generation. As more companies enter the market, competition is likely to drive innovation and improvements in the quality and capabilities of these tools.

As Jimeng AI and its competitors continue to develop and refine their offerings, users can expect to see ongoing improvements in the quality and versatility of AI-generated video content.

The coming months and years will likely bring further advancements in this technology, potentially changing the way video content is created and consumed across various platforms and industries.

Featured image credit: Jimeng AI