Latest news with #OpenArt
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Google Employees' AI Startup OpenArt Raises $5 Million As 6M Users Create 'Brainrot' Videos In Just One Click
OpenArt, founded in 2022 by two former Google employees, now powers a viral AI craze that transforms wild ideas, such as a shark wearing sneakers or a ballerina with a cappuccino head, into "brainrot" videos with a single click, and the platform already has roughly 6 million monthly active users, TechCrunch reports. The company's new "one-click story" feature, launched in open beta, lets users turn a single input, whether a sentence, a script, or even a song, into a one-minute video with a complete story arc, for everything from a lighthearted TikTok clip to a serious explainer or YouTube music video, even advertising. TechCrunch says that creators can select from three templates: Character Vlog, Music Video, or Explainer, to build their video story. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can One-Click Templates Deliver Character Vlogs, Music Videos, Explainers Character Vlog starts by uploading an image of your character and entering a prompt. According to TechCrunch, uploading a song allows the AI to parse the lyrics and create an animated story aligned with the music, such as illustrating flowers blooming, all automatically. Users can refine their projects by returning to a storyboard mode and tweaking prompts for individual clips. TechCrunch says that OpenArt aggregates over 50 AI models, including DALLE-3, GPT, Imagen, Flux Kontext, and Stable Diffusion, giving creators control over the tools behind each production. Character Consistency and IP Caution Drive OpenArt's Approach OpenArt emphasizes that one of its defining strengths is keeping characters visually consistent throughout an entire video, a challenge many AI tools struggle to address. Rather than leaving creators with disconnected clips that must be manually stitched into a story, TechCrunch says the platform is designed to maintain both visual and narrative flow from start to finish. Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a ? "A problem that a lot of AI couldn't really handle well is to have the character consistent in the same you don't have the same character, then it's hard to get immersed in the story," OpenArt co-founder and CEO Coco Mao told TechCrunch. Mao added that when users upload protected IP characters, "by default, the models we use will reject them, and it's not able to produce the IP character, but sometimes it slips." Mao said they are open to licensing discussions with major IP holders. TechCrunch reports that Character Vlog prompts featuring characters like Pikachu, SpongeBob, and Super Mario may raise legal risk. If a video infringes copyright, it may be removed and the creator held liable, potentially facing legal action from rights Pricing, $5 Million in Funding, On Track for $20 Million Revenue Run Rate OpenArt uses a credit-based subscription model, TechCrunch says. The basic plan is $14 per month for 4,000 credits, which include up to four One-Click stories, 40 videos, 4,000 images, and four characters. For $29 per month, users can access 12,000 credits, including up to 12 One-Click stories. The "Infinite" plan costs $56 per month for 24,000 credits. There is also a team plan available at $35 per month per member. To date, OpenArt has raised $5 million in funding from Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures. The company says it is generating positive cash flow and expects to surpass an annual revenue run rate of $20 million. Read Next: Kevin O'Leary Says Real Estate's Been a Smart Bet for 200 Years — Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Former Google Employees' AI Startup OpenArt Raises $5 Million As 6M Users Create 'Brainrot' Videos In Just One Click originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Hindustan Times
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ex-Googlers build a new tool that turns ideas into viral videos in 60 seconds
The internet is now flooded with some of the most bizarre videos that go viral in no time. Of late, a few clips featuring oddball characters like a shark with sneakers and ballerinas with cappuccino heads are gaining a lot of traction from youngsters, and they call these 'brain rot' videos. Thanks to a young startup called OpenArt, now anyone can make them in just one click. Turn your sentences into viral videos with OpenArt AI in less than a minute.(OpenArt ) Founded in 2022 by two former Google employees, OpenArt is riding the wave of internet culture with over 3 million monthly users. The company recently launched a 'One-Click Story' feature in open beta that lets anyone turn a single sentence, a script or even a song into a 60-second video with a proper beginning, middle and ending. This feature isn't just for creating silly TikToks, but it can also be used to make explainer videos, music videos and ads. Users can pick from three styles, namely, Character Vlog, Music Video, or Explainer. You can upload your own character image, add a prompt, and let the tool bring it to life. Editing made simple OpenArt's editing interface functions as a digital storyboard, enabling users to refine individual scenes for a more polished final product. The platform integrates technology from more than 50 advanced visual-generation tools to ensure both visual and narrative consistency, an area where many video creation platforms still face limitations. However, the platform's ease of use also raises questions around intellectual property (IP) rights. Some users attempt to generate videos featuring well-known characters such as Pikachu or SpongeBob, potentially infringing on copyrights. As reported by TechCrunch, Coco Mao, co-founder and CEO of OpenArt says 'We try to be cautious around the IP infringement. When you upload some IP characters, by default, the models we use will reject them, and it's not able to produce the IP character, but sometimes it slips.' While OpenArt's system is designed to block such content by default, the company acknowledges that certain instances may bypass these blocks. Discussions with major IP holders regarding potential licensing agreements are underway to mitigate this risk. Growth and future roadmap Looking ahead, OpenArt plans to enhance its One-Click Story feature by enabling interactions between multiple characters within the same video. The company is also developing a mobile application to make content creation accessible on the go. How the platform operates The platform operates on a credit-based subscription model with four tiers. The entry-level plan is priced at $14 per month and includes 4,000 credits that are enough for up to four One-Click stories, 40 videos, 4,000 images, and four characters. The advanced plan, at $30 per month, offers 12,000 credits and supports up to 12 One-Click stories. For heavier users, the Infinite plan provides 24,000 credits for $56 per month. There is a team plan as well that is available at $35 per member each month. Since its launch, OpenArt has raised $5 million in funding from Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures. The company reports positive cash flow and projects its annual revenue to surpass $20 million.
TechCrunch
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- TechCrunch
Former Googlers AI startup OpenArt now creates ‘brainrot' videos in just one click
AI-generated 'brainrot' videos are popping up all over the internet and getting a lot of attention. Currently gaining traction among younger users, these clips feature wild characters, like a shark wearing sneakers and a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head. One startup driving this trend is OpenArt, founded by two former Google employees in 2022. It touts around 3 million monthly active users. The company recently launched a new 'one-click story' feature in open beta, which allows users to input a single sentence, a script, or even a song and turn it into a one-minute video with a story arc. This can include anything from a light-hearted story for TikTok to more serious content like explainer videos or music videos for YouTube. OpenArt even envisions this feature being used for advertising. With One-Click Story, there are three templates to choose from: Character Vlog, Music Video, or Explainer. For a character vlog, users start by uploading an image of their character and entering a prompt. If a song is uploaded, the software understands the lyrics and creates an animation that aligns with the song's themes, like illustrating flowers blooming in a garden. Users can edit individual clips by revisiting the editor's storyboard mode and tweaking prompts for a more refined result. The platform aggregates over 50 AI models, allowing users to choose their preferred tools, such as DALLE-3, GPT, Imagen, Flux Kontext, and Stable Diffusion. Image Credits:OpenArt The goal of the new feature is to further lower the barrier for becoming an AI creator, a medium that remains immensely popular despite ongoing controversy. While these tools can be beneficial—like using video generators to quickly produce content with original characters and narratives—there are numerous ethical issues to address. These include imitating other artists' styles, intellectual property rights, and the dangers of misuse and creating misinformation. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW During testing, we noticed that the Character Vlog option may tread into a grey legal area due to the types of characters it offers—such as Pikachu, SpongeBob, and Super Mario—which could pose risks of intellectual property (IP) infringement. In June, Disney and Universal sued AI firm Midjourney over AI-generated images. Users should be aware that if their videos are found to infringe another's copyright, the video may be taken off social media platforms, and if the user is found to have contributed to the infringement, they can potentially be held liable under copyright law, which can result in legal action from the copyright holder. 'We try to be cautious around the IP infringement,' Coco Mao, co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch. 'When you upload some IP characters, by default, the models we use will reject them, and it's not able to produce the IP character, but sometimes it slips.' Mao added that the company is open to talking to major IP holders to get licensing for characters. Image Credits:OpenArt One aspect that OpenArt believes sets it apart is its ability to maintain character consistency. It argues that, unlike the average video model that often relies on simple, standalone clips that users have to piece together into a cohesive story, OpenArt aims to ensure that both the visuals and the narrative remain consistent. 'A problem that a lot of AI couldn't really handle well is to have the character consistent in the same video…If you don't have the same character, then it's hard to get immersed in the story,' Mao said. Looking ahead, the company plans to iterate on the one-click feature by allowing users to create videos featuring conversations between two different characters. Another plan on the roadmap is developing a mobile app. OpenArt operates on a credit-based system. It offers four plans, with the most basic costing $14 per month for 4,000 credits, which include up to 4 One-Click stories, 40 videos, 4,000 images, and 4 characters. The advanced plan costs $30 per month for 12,000 credits and includes up to 12 One-Click stories. The Infinite plan is priced at $56 per month for 24,000 credits, and there is also a team plan available for $35/month per member. OpenArt has raised $5 million in funding to date from Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures, and it boasts a positive cash flow. Additionally, the company said it's on track to achieve an annual revenue rate of over $20 million.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Googlers' AI startup OpenArt now creates ‘brain rot' videos in just one click
AI-generated 'brain rot' videos are popping up all over the internet and getting a lot of attention. Currently gaining traction among younger users, these clips feature wild characters, like a shark wearing sneakers and a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head. One startup driving this trend is OpenArt, founded by two former Google employees in 2022. It touts around 3 million monthly active users. The company recently launched a new 'one-click story' feature in open beta, which allows users to input a single sentence, a script, or even a song and turn it into a one-minute video with a story arc. This can include anything from a light-hearted story for TikTok to more serious content like explainer videos or music videos for YouTube. OpenArt even envisions this feature being used for advertising. With One-Click Story, there are three templates to choose from: Character Vlog, Music Video, or Explainer. For a character vlog, users start by uploading an image of their character and entering a prompt. If a song is uploaded, the software understands the lyrics and creates an animation that aligns with the song's themes, like illustrating flowers blooming in a garden. Users can edit individual clips by revisiting the editor's storyboard mode and tweaking prompts for a more refined result. The platform aggregates over 50 AI models, allowing users to choose their preferred tools, such as DALLE-3, GPT, Imagen, Flux Kontext, and Stable Diffusion. The goal of the new feature is to further lower the barrier for becoming an AI creator, a medium that remains immensely popular despite ongoing controversy. While these tools can be beneficial—like using video generators to quickly produce content with original characters and narratives—there are numerous ethical issues to address. These include imitating other artists' styles, intellectual property rights, and the dangers of misuse and creating misinformation. During testing, we noticed that the Character Vlog option may tread into a grey legal area due to the types of characters it offers — such as Pikachu, SpongeBob, and Super Mario — which could pose risks of intellectual property (IP) infringement. In June, Disney and Universal sued AI firm Midjourney over AI-generated images. Users should be aware that if their videos are found to infringe another's copyright, the video may be taken off social media platforms, and if the user is found to have contributed to the infringement, they can potentially be held liable under copyright law, which can result in legal action from the copyright holder. 'We try to be cautious around the IP infringement,' Coco Mao, co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch. 'When you upload some IP characters, by default, the models we use will reject them, and it's not able to produce the IP character, but sometimes it slips.' Mao added that the company is open to talking to major IP holders to get licensing for characters. One aspect that OpenArt believes sets it apart is its ability to maintain character consistency. It argues that, unlike the average video model that often relies on simple, standalone clips that users have to piece together into a cohesive story, OpenArt aims to ensure that both the visuals and the narrative remain consistent. 'A problem that a lot of AI couldn't really handle well is to have the character consistent in the same video…If you don't have the same character, then it's hard to get immersed in the story,' Mao said. Looking ahead, the company plans to iterate on the one-click feature by allowing users to create videos featuring conversations between two different characters. Another plan on the roadmap is developing a mobile app. OpenArt operates on a credit-based system. It offers four plans, with the most basic costing $14 per month for 4,000 credits, which include up to 4 One-Click stories, 40 videos, 4,000 images, and 4 characters. The advanced plan costs $30 per month for 12,000 credits and includes up to 12 One-Click stories. The Infinite plan is priced at $56 per month for 24,000 credits, and there is also a team plan available for $35/month per member. OpenArt has raised $5 million in funding to date from Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures, and it boasts a positive cash flow. Additionally, the company said it's on track to achieve an annual revenue rate of over $20 million. Sign in to access your portfolio
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Adult content' made her an overnight sensation. Now, a police arrest reveals how Assam woman was victim of AI used by ex-collegemate
Last week, an Assamese woman's 'provocative posts' on Instagram became the subject of headlines, including claims that she had entered the adult film industry. Now, it has emerged that she was the victim of a cybercrime from a man she studied with, and who allegedly morphed her images and videos using AI tools to harass her. The accused, 30-year-old Pratim Bora, is a mechanical engineer who had a work-from-home job and was arrested by Dibrugarh police from Tinsukia on Saturday night. He has been booked under sections of the BNS, including criminal force to outrage a woman's modesty, sexual harassment, production and circulation of obscene material, criminal intimidation, creating false material to harm someone's reputation and defamation. Dibrugarh SSP in-charge, Sizal Agarwal, said on Sunday that the woman, who is around the same age as the accused and is married, had filed a complaint with the Dibrugarh police on Saturday, alleging that her images had been morphed and circulated on social media. She said that police tracked Bora down with the help of the information that he had provided on Instagram to create the profile, which gathered more than a million followers in a short period. 'When she gave us the complaint, she gave us a reference to an Instagram page. We sought its details and found a contact number. From there, we traced the identity of the accused, whom we have arrested. We cross-checked with the woman if she knew Pratim Bora. She confirmed that they had studied together and had a past acquaintance. It confirmed our suspicion that he was behind it,' said ASP Agarwal. Agarwal told The Indian Express that the accused and the woman had been in college from 2013 to 2017. Police said that Bora appeared to be using AI software such as OpenArt and Midjourney. 'We have seized a laptop, two mobile phones, a hard disk, a tablet, a pen drive, a card reader and some SIM cards. When there is a digital crime, information is sought from multiple agencies. Since the case was only registered yesterday, it is at a preliminary stage. He has used AI software, so we will seek all the information. What credentials he used to create all this, how many fake profiles and IDs he created,' said Agarwal. She said that while the Bora appeared to have begun creating and circulating the content for 'harassment based on personal reasons,' he had also made money by monetising the content. 'From our interrogation, we found that he was trying to harass the woman based on personal reasons. After a while, when he created a webpage on Linktree and gave a link to view pornographic content, there was a subscription system. He got money from the subscription. So as the crime continued, he began earning and got almost Rs 10 lakh from the whole process. He became greedy after that and continued the crime because of that,' she said. The profile has amassed millions of views and followers in the past week after a morphed photo of the victim with adult film personality Kendra Lust was uploaded on July 2 with a caption suggesting that she was joining the adult film industry. The provocative posts on the account date back to 2022.
