With chatbots and text-to-image generators taking the internet by storm, the next frontier of AI might be text-to-video generators.
Nvidia recently published a research paper called “High-Resolution Video Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Models” on its experiments at its Toronto AI Lab that details how it uses Stable Diffusion to create a tool that can make moving art results from text prompts.
The tech company showcased demos of the Latent Diffusion Models (LDMs), which use text to generate video clips without large amounts of computer processing, TechRadar noted.
The tool is able to generate GIF-style moving images that are approximately 4.7-second long videos at a 1,280 x 2,048 resolution. It is also capable of creating longer videos at a lower resolution of 512 x 1024, according to the research paper.
Having viewed a demo of the technology, TechRadar said the tool is likely ideal as a text-to-GIF generator at this point. The publication noted it could easily handle simple prompts such as a stormtrooper vacuuming on the beach or teddy bear is playing the electric guitar, high definition, 4K. Even so, the result still produced random artifacts and smudging in the GIFs, as are common on other regularly used AI tools such as Midjourney.
The publication believes longer videos still need a little more development before they hit prime time, but feels Nvidia will work quickly to get the technology ready. They might work well for stock libraries and similar purposes.
There are other companies experimenting with AI text-to-video generators. Google demoed its Phenaki generator, which allows longer prompts that produce 20-second clips. Another startup called Runway announced its second-generation video model last month, which is also based on Stable Diffusion. Its demo of the prompt the late afternoon sun peeking through the window of a New York City loft shows how you can add slight moving effects to still images.
Users also stand to benefit from the addition of AI in other programs, such as Adobe Firefly and Adobe Premiere Rush, according to TechRadar.
Some other companies, such as Narakeet and Lume5, market themselves as having text-to-video generators. However, many of these tools work more like PowerPoint presentations, putting together text, audio, images, and perhaps some already produced clips of video with prompts, as opposed to generating a unique work.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.