TikTok Update: How AI Alive Works and Other Features You Didn't Know About

TikTok continues to innovate and has launched "AI Alive," a surprising AI tool for animating still images. We'll tell you how it works and guide you through the latest developments you may have missed.

TikTok continues its constant evolution, integrating increasingly powerful tools to keep its creators and users engaged. The latest major addition is AI Alive, an artificial intelligence feature designed to "bring to life" static images, transforming them into short, dynamic videos. But this isn't the only update; the platform has quietly introduced a host of new features ranging from a sales assistant for stores to significant improvements to digital wellbeing and parental controls.

This is your complete guide to TikTok's latest features, explaining in detail what they are and how you can start using them to improve your experience on the social network.

AI Alive: Turn Your Photos into Animated Videos

The most striking feature of the new batch of updates is undoubtedly AI Alive. This tool uses generative artificial intelligence to facilitate the creation of dynamic content from a single image.

How does it work?

The process is remarkably simple. The user selects a photo from their gallery, and upon applying the AI ​​Alive tool, the artificial intelligence animates it. According to the company, the feature allows for various visual styles, such as transforming the image into an anime style or giving it the appearance of a retro video game.

"AI Alive uses intelligent tools that allow anyone, regardless of their editing experience, to transform static images into short, captivating videos, enhanced with motion, atmospheric effects, and creative effects," the social network noted.

How to access and use AI Alive?

Although the feature is being rolled out gradually, it's integrated into the Stories creation section. The general steps are:

* Open the Stories camera on TikTok.

* Select a static image from the gallery.

* Find and tap the “AI Alive” or “bring a photo to life” icon.

* Choose between the different animation styles offered by the tool.

* Generate and publish the short video in the Stories.

This tool reaffirms TikTok's commitment to generative AI, putting editing capabilities that previously required complex software into the hands of all users.

Beyond Animation: Other Key New Features on TikTok

Along with AI Alive, TikTok has launched a series of functional updates that improve the experience for marketers, parents, and users in general.

Seller Assistant: The AI ​​Copilot for Sellers

To boost its e-commerce business, TikTok has introduced Seller Assistant. This is an AI-based virtual assistant integrated into the TikTok Shop dashboard. Its main functions are:

* Offer recommendations on marketing strategies.

* Assist in managing advertising campaigns.

* Provide access to store performance data to optimize sales.

Improvements to Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls

Aware of its impact on young audiences, TikTok has strengthened its safety and well-being tools:

* New Wellness Features: The platform has added guided meditation sessions and expanded its Mental Health Education Fund.

* Improved Parental Controls: New features have been introduced to help parents better protect their children, such as a keyword filter for the feed, notification schedules, and alerts if a teen reports an inappropriate video. One of the most notable additions is a "sleep schedule" that sends an alert to the child if they continue using the app after 10 PM, activating relaxing music to encourage rest.

Accessibility and Creation Tools

* Alt Text in Images: To improve accessibility, alternative text can now be added to images, allowing visually impaired users to understand the content through screen readers.

* Highlight Comments in Live: Creators can now highlight specific comments during a live broadcast to encourage engagement and highlight the most interesting responses.

* Video Editor Update: The editor within TikTok Ads Manager has been improved with AI avatars, automatic captioning narration, and voiceover translations.

Conclusion: A Platform in Constant Transformation

TikTok's latest updates demonstrate that the platform is looking to go beyond simple entertainment. With tools like AI Alive, it's delving deeper into AI-assisted content creation. At the same time, with features like Seller Assistant and improved parental controls, it seeks to establish itself as a more robust e-commerce ecosystem and a safer digital environment. For users, staying up to date with these developments is key to maximizing the potential of today's most influential social network.