Meta, the corporation behind Facebook and Instagram, has launched a new set of artificial intelligence (AI) tools dubbed “Meta Movie Gen” that can generate films and automatically add sound effects, ambient noise, and background music. These AI technologies enable users to quickly build films from basic text prompts and augment them with audio, giving filmmakers and online content creators a method to speed up their workflow. However, the arrival of this technology has sparked both enthusiasm and alarm about its possible misuse.
The idea is simple: users provide a brief description of a scenario, and the AI creates a movie. Then, another program creates suitable noises depending on a different written description. In a demonstration, Meta showed brief movies created in minutes, such as a guy gazing over a waterfall, a snake slithering through a forest, and an all-terrain vehicle moving over a desert—all accompanied by music and sound effects.
Meta’s AI video generator is part of a rising trend in the AI sector, as other companies are competing to develop comparable products. For example, in February 2024, OpenAI, another top AI development firm, launched “Sora,” a platform that allows users to generate realistic films by merely inputting a sentence. However, because to worries about potential misuse and the exorbitant expense of the technology, OpenAI has restricted access to Sora, allowing only a small group of testers to utilize it.
While OpenAI and other businesses are wary about publicly disclosing AI video production tools, Meta has been more transparent. Meta’s strategy is to test its new system with a limited number of experts, with an emphasis on the benefits for filmmakers and online producers. According to Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta’s VP of Generative AI, the objective is to speed up the creative process in these businesses.
In addition to the video creation tool, Meta provided an audio generating tool that can generate sound effects to go with the videos. For example, in one presentation, a video of a guy making circular motions with burning items was supplemented with sound elements such as rustling leaves and breaking twigs, as well as symphonic music.
Despite the obvious possibilities, several experts are concerned that this technology may be exploited to spread misinformation. Because AI-generated films and sounds can be created rapidly and inexpensively, it may become simpler to disseminate incorrect or deceptive material online. To address this worry, Meta intends to embed watermarks in AI-generated videos to identify them as such. However, as Al-Dahle recognized, these watermarks may be deleted, which raises further concerns about the hazards.
Other firms, like as Google and Microsoft, are investigating similar technology, while startups such as Runway and Pika are adding to the competition in the sector. Although these technologies have the potential to change filmmaking and content production, some experts are concerned that they could eventually replace less skilled digital artists.
As Meta continues to develop and refine its AI capabilities, the future of AI-generated content in entertainment and other sectors will undoubtedly provide both possibilities and obstacles. The capacity to create high-quality films and sounds in minutes has huge potential for producers, but it also raises significant ethical issues about how these tools may be misused.
Original information sourced from Cade Metz and Mike Isaac’s article in The New York Times, published on October 4, 2024. You can check out the full article here.
Hi, I'm Voss Xolani, and I'm passionate about all things AI. With many years of experience in the tech industry, I specialize in explaining the functionality and benefits of AI-powered software for both businesses and individual users. My content explores the latest AI tools, offering practical insights on how they can streamline workflows, boost productivity, and drive innovation. I also review new software solutions to help readers understand their features and applications. Beyond that, I stay up-to-date with AI trends and experiment with emerging technologies to provide the most relevant information.