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What you need to know about AI-generated video content in 2024

AI-generated video content continues to dominate the headlines. But how do you make it, is it OK to use, and can Google detect it and penalize you?

Epidemic Sound

• 8 min read
Watching AI-generated video content

AI-generated video content. You’ve heard the term, but what does it mean, and which are the best software and websites for the job? Let’s cover all of that and more today.

We'll run through:

What is AI-generated video content?

AI-generated content is any piece of content that’s created via machine learning, rather than by a human. You’ll have probably come across ChatGPT or Meta's Llama 2, which take questions or prompts and come back at you with fully-formed, detailed answers based on language models. 

Text-to-video is a common AI-generation tool, allowing people to write a text prompt and convert it into video. Your imagination — and the AI-generation tool’s ‘imagination’ — is the limit, turning all sorts of impossible scenarios into video.

Watching content on a laptop

How does AI-generated video content work?

Once you feed your text prompt into an AI video generation tool, a ton of work happens under the hood to create your shiny new video. We asked text generation software DeepAI to explain it to us. This is what it came back with:

“AI video generation works by using computer algorithms and deep learning techniques to create videos automatically. The process starts with the selection of a dataset that contains a collection of images, videos, and audio clips that correspond to the desired theme of the video.

“Next, the AI model is trained on the dataset using various techniques such as neural networks and computer vision. Once the model is trained, it can generate new videos by combining and manipulating the elements from the dataset according to specified parameters. These videos can then be refined and optimized through further training and editing.”

To simplify that, the video generation tool takes your text prompt, crawls the internet, and interprets that information. The resulting video has been contextualized to fit your text prompt, condensing the billions of options into one neat, digestible video. Pretty impressive, right?

Browsing content

Can Google detect AI-generated content?

Google’s getting smarter every day, and it can identify AI-generated content. The big G will hunt for specific grammar, text structures, and syntax often used by AI-generation software. There’s no way around it: Google’s sophisticated algorithm is constantly training itself to sniff out AI-generated content.

Does Google ban AI-generated content?

So, Google knows whether you’re using AI-generated content or not. But can it outright ban such content? In a nutshell…not really. That’s because Google ranks content based on a load of factors, the most important being user-friendliness. The more user-friendly, the higher your content generally ranks in search results.

Is your content geared toward people first? If the answer is yes, then you don’t need to worry. It doesn’t matter whether your content came from your brain or generative AI software — as long as the intent is to entertain, inform, and engage, you should be in the clear.

Is AI-generated content bad for SEO?

If you let a generative program run wild and just upload the content without checking it, Google won’t remove it. However, it could damage your SEO ranking. That’s because the content is created with machine learning — it doesn’t understand the nuances of the topic like you do, and it might ‘guess’ to fill in the gaps. If it does this, and the content turns out to be misleading or downright wrong, then it could suck your SEO health dry and make your content less trustworthy.

Surfing AI-generated content

To avoid this, always double-check, review, and edit your AI-generated content. You wouldn’t shoot an entire ten-minute video, stick it in Final Cut Pro, then upload it without checking every last detail. Any AI-generated content should go through the same review process as ‘regular’ content, to avoid any video editing mistakes or factual inaccuracies. 

Can AI-generated work be copyrighted?

Content that’s 100% AI-generated isn't technically copyrighted (but hold that thought). Even if it’s created by a text prompt written by a human, the resulting content is created by crawling the internet and assembling a Frankenstein’s monster of publicly available material.

The image, text, or video has been created by an algorithm, rather than an author. After all, you can’t credit an algorithm as a rights-holder. However, if you use AI-generated video content as a building block, then edit it, some would consider that work to be copyrighted as your own — it’s a gray area at the moment.

Creating video content with AI

Is AI-generated video morally OK?

This becomes tricky to answer when you use AI-generated video content for commercial purposes. Some folks argue that AI-generated video can leave you open to being sued by original artists who feel their work has been copied. For that reason, it pays to be extra vigilant. Triple-check that each output doesn't violate intellectual property rights, privacy, and/or additional rights of other people.

As lawmakers try to keep up with the pace of machine learning, content creators might find themselves sharing copyright credits and moral rights with algorithms, generative AI companies, and other content creators.

For now, it’s too early to call the shots. Platforms like TikTok have started telling users to tag any AI-generated content as such, but we're still a long way from a morally and legally watertight solution. We’ll probably have clearer answers in the next few years, as generative AI technology advances.

Before we move on to the different types of generative AI programs for your video content, have you considered the soundtrack? Find the perfect tune every time with our catalog of more than 40,000 tracks.

Can you make AI-generated video content for free?

There’s much more engine power behind text-to-video than your regular text generation services. As such, most of them will cost you a few dollars. There are a couple out there that offer free trials, so let’s take a look:

  • DeepBrain AI: This creates photo-realistic avatars, and gives you a shot at it for free — you have to pay for the full version, though
  • Elai: This allows a minute’s worth of free text-to-video, but like DeepBrain AI, you have to splurge to use the full product
  • Meta Make-A-Video: Meta’s AI-generated video machine is currently closed to the public, but you can sign up for future access
Reviewing AI-generated content

What is the best AI video content generator?

So, we’ve covered what AI-generated video content is, how it works, and how you can use it. Now, we think it’s about time we rattled through some of the best in class. Check out a few of our top picks below:

  • InVideo: This web-based generator features more than 50 AI-based templates, and can convert your text into video within minutes. It also claims to ensure every video is unique, so you won’t be stuck with a bunch of content that’s essentially the same. There’s a free, watermarked plan, with paid-for plans stretching between $15 and $30 per month. As it’s web-based, it can get a bit laggy during peak hours. 
  • Synthesia: Like InVideo, Synthesia is web-based. This means you might still encounter lag from time to time. That said, its $30-per-month subscription leaves you spoiled for choice: more than 120 languages, top-notch video quality, and new avatars being added weekly. Synthesia is mainly used for corporate training videos, so if that’s what you need, get stuck in!
  • Pictory: Ranging from $19 to $99 per month, Pictory has a little something for everyone. The software can match its templates to your text, and can generate video based on long-form articles. It’s also super user-friendly, so you don’t have to learn much to harness Pictory’s full power.
  • Runway: This web- and iOS-based software is available for free, but you'll have to pay between $12 and $76 per month for full usage, depending on how often you create content. Runaway's Gen-2 program allows you to create entire worlds with text-to-video technology! 

AI-generated video is an exciting concept, and with new tools like video-to-video AI, it's easy to get carried away. But it’s worth remembering that this shouldn’t replace the hard work it takes to create content. Think of it as a tool, rather than a replacement. It’s as useful as video editing software or a camera, and just like those pieces of gear, it can’t deliver your content in isolation.

AI-generated video content — and AI-generated content, more broadly — can help save time and come up with new ideas, but it’s not a stand-in for creativity. It needs you to put in the hours, edit that puppy, and take your videos to a standard you and your followers will be proud of. Otherwise, it’ll run with ideas like Pepperoni Hug Spot.

Another thing your followers will love is top-drawer, carefully considered music. It’s tough to find the perfect song for your video content’s vibe, so why not use Epidemic Sound?

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 40,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier. 

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

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