- Pika has just released Pika 2.1 AI Video Creator with features such as Scene Ingredients and realistic motion control. Features like dynamic lighting, style transfer and dynamic lighting streamline cinema production. Pika 2.1, compared to Sora is designed for all skill levels.
AI creator Pika Labs wants to stand out against competitors such as OpenAI and Sora. Its newest model gives it some real power in that effort. Pika 2.1 is a new version of Pika 2.0 that includes a number of upgraded and new features.
This new model gives users tools to make animations smoother, lighting dramatic, and physics realistic. It’s not Pixar but it’s much closer than you think. And it’s still useful for those who use YouTube tutorials to edit family album videos. Scene Ingredients, introduced with Pika 2.0, is still the star feature of the new version. It allows you to include people, objects and locations from your uploaded photos. With a few clicks, your living room can be transformed into a starship’s bridge and your dog will star in a romantic comedy. Pika 2.1’s real strength is the new Advanced Motion Control. The earlier models’ robotic, awkward movements are now replaced by fluid, graceful animation. You can have ballerinas or gymnasts in your video, without them looking like straw-filled dummies. Hold onto your Pika 2.0 is coming soon. YouTube
The new Realistic Physics Simulation feature makes all videos feel more real. Objects behave as if they were in the real world. For example, a character throwing a ball will now result in an arc of motion and bounce. This is exactly what Isaac Newton said it should. It’s a subtle upgrade, but it makes your animation feel more like a live-action performance. The new Dynamic Light Effects
also allows you to enhance those scenes with an actual mood. Shadows are intensified, highlights are emphasized, and sunsets appear to be straight out of the travel influencer reel. If you prefer a more stylized cinematic experience, the Seamless Style Transfer function allows you to transform your modern, realistic video in a neon-noir of the 1980s, or a moving watercolour painting.
Pika Power
Pika 2.1 doesn’t enter an empty arena. It will be competing with Sora, as well as other games like Runway, Pollo and Luma Labs Dream Machine. Sora’s text-to-video capability has been praised, but it is primarily for professionals and not casual filmmakers. Runway is a multimodal app that allows you to create videos using text, images or video clips. There is a steep learning process to unlock all its features.
Pika, on the other hand, touts itself as an excellent tool for both professional animators and weekend dabblers. You will need to subscribe to Pika 2.1 in order to access all of the new features. You’ll be limited to the Pika 1.5 version if you don’t subscribe. Pika 1.5 has a variety of visual effects that will entice you to sign up and gain access to the latest Pika version.
This AI video maker can make a banana type look realistic and could challenge Sora.
Eric Hal Schwartz has been a freelance writer at TechRadar for more than 15 years. He has covered the intersection of technology and the world. He was the head writer of Voicebot.ai for the last five-years and was at the forefront of reporting on large language models and generative AI. Since then, he has become an expert in the products of generative AI, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. He also knows Google Gemini and all other synthetic media tools. His experience spans print, digital and broadcast media as well as live events. He’s now continuing to tell stories that people want to hear and need to know about the rapidly changing AI space and the impact it has on their lives. Eric is based out of New York City.
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