TL;DR:
- OpenAI’s Sora remains elusive, with no public availability yet.
- Seven AI video generators are reviewed, including Canva, InVideo AI, and Synthesia.
- Student feedback highlights both advantages and limitations of AI video tools.
The world of AI video creation is evolving rapidly, and while we eagerly await OpenAI’s Sora, there are already several impressive tools available. This article explores seven leading AI video generators, offering insights from hands-on experiences and student feedback. Whether you’re a creator or a marketer, these tools can help you stay ahead in the AI video revolution.
The Long Wait: Sora’s Elusive Public Availability
OpenAI announced Sora, an AI model capable of creating realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions, on February 15. However, six months later, Sora remains out of reach for the public. The wait for Sora is starting to resemble “Waiting for Godot,” with no clear timeline for its availability.
Exploring 7 Alternative AI Video Generators
While waiting for Sora, I taught two online classes on influencer marketing and AI at the New Media Academy in Dubai, UAE. To help my students apply what they learned, I assigned them the task of creating a video using a free AI generator available in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region within two or three days. Here are the seven AI video generators we explored:
1. Canva’s Magic Studio: Quick and Customizable Video Creation
Canva’s AI video generator is part of its Magic Studio, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to help teams quickly create videos from text. You can refine the content using editing tools, applying filters or removing backgrounds with a single click.
2. InVideo AI: Simple and Efficient Video Production
InVideo AI provides pre-made templates and an AI-driven text-to-video feature. It allows you to create professional-looking videos quickly. The free plan includes watermarked videos and limited export options.
3. Kapwing: Collaborative Editing with AI Tools
Kapwing is a collaborative video editor that offers AI tools for video creation, such as automatic subtitling and meme generators. The free plan has some limitations, like watermarked exports and limited cloud storage.
4. Lumen5: Turning Text into Engaging Videos
Lumen5 converts text into engaging video content. You can input your blog post, article, or any text content, and it will generate a video based on it. The free plan includes basic features, though it adds a watermark.
5. Pictory: Condensing Long-Form Content into Short Videos
Pictory allows you to transform long-form content, such as blogs and articles, into short, shareable videos. It uses AI to highlight key points and create a video summary. The free version comes with some limitations but is functional for basic needs.
6. Runway ML: Experimenting with Creative AI
Runway ML is a unique tool that offers a free plan with credits for using their AI features, including video generation. It’s a good choice if you want to experiment with a creative and powerful tool, but keep in mind the free tier has limitations.
7. Synthesia: AI-Driven Multilingual Video Content
Synthesia is an AI video generator that transforms text into speech in a few minutes. It includes more than 160 AI avatars that can speak your text in over 130 languages. This enables marketers to create training, how-to, and product marketing videos for global audiences.
Insights from Hands-On Use of AI Video Generators
Following my overview of these seven AI video generators, I asked my students to pick just one to use for their capstone assignment. Here are some insights from their experiences:
Dana Al Khulaifi, Student at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU)
“It was easy and enjoyable to create videos with InVideo.io! My thoughts were given to the AI, which created a masterpiece out of them. I was able to produce professional-looking videos quickly because the AI handled the majority of the work.”
Anonymous Student Feedback
- Synthesia: Impressed by the availability of different Arabic dialects but noted that the pronunciation in Arabic was not perfect.
- Runway: Found the process straightforward with tools for editing, transitions, and effects.
- Canva: Noted the efficiency and speed of AI tools but highlighted the lack of emotional expression and the computer-like tone of AI-generated content.
General Observations
- Advantages: Efficiency and speed, ease of use, versatility.
- Limitations and Challenges: Need for human intervention, pronunciation and expression issues, lack of content authenticity.
Testing the Top AI Video Generators While Waiting for Sora
While waiting for Sora, evaluating other AI video generators can still teach us some important lessons. The most important lesson is this: “AI won’t take your job, it’s somebody using AI that will take your job.” Don’t wait for the perfect AI video generator to finally appear. Evaluate some of the best ones that are already available to learn what they can – and can’t – do already.
Embracing the AI Video Revolution
The AI video revolution is here, and it’s crucial to stay ahead by exploring the tools available today. While Sora remains elusive, tools like Canva, InVideo AI, and Synthesia offer powerful capabilities that can enhance your video creation process. By understanding their strengths and limitations, you can leverage AI to create engaging and innovative content.
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