Pika, a new TikTok-like AI app, makes playful, creative short videos from just a few words

Demi Joe, the 26-year-old founder of AI video company Pika, has degrees in mathematics and computer science. But she’s also always had a creative streak, including writing poetry, and loves to show off on social media with photo and video tools.

That’s why she dropped out of the doctoral program at Stanford University and co-founded Pika in April 2023 with aspiring animator and fellow doctoral student Chenlin Meng. Just as AI video companies like Runway were starting to emerge, the duo, after experience producing feature-length AI films, decided to create an easier-to-use AI video generator, which sparked the interest of top Silicon Valley investors like Nat Friedman.

Now, Pika has raised about $135 million at a $470 million valuation and boasts 14.5 million users across several creative apps. It recently launched a new TikTok-like AI video app, also called Pika, which is already trending, and last week it debuted a new feature in that app called Predictive Video. Unlike other video tools that require long prompts to get good results, predictive video allows users to upload a selfie and say something simple, like “Make me a rock star,” “I’m giving a TED talk,” or “Make me sing in Japanese”; The tool then infers your intent, and presents a complete video containing text, music, dance moves, background, lighting, camera angles, and visual effects.

Rather than simply producing a standalone video, Pika can anticipate movement and interaction, producing a kind of mixed reality by allowing users to weave themselves or real-world elements into AI-generated scenes – something that traditionally requires significant animation skills and production time.

All of this is tailored to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, groups that grew up on short videos and use online platforms to express themselves and share their ideas, Guo explained. “Most non-professionals would never try to create a film using generative AI, but a lot of people like to create short videos,” she said. “It’s really about self-expression.”

This, she insists, is the opposite of what has become a ubiquitous tool for AI video: Slop. There may be widespread synthetic content, but pica is the point, Ironically, the use of generative artificial intelligence for “Help people become more realistic,” she says.

“We really believe it’s not meaningless content,” she emphasized. “It’s about self-expression, and there’s real personality behind it. So a funny person will post funny videos, or a very selfish person will post selfish videos.” Some people like to use a single visual effect, create a video that captures an atmosphere or mood, or simply use the tool to do what they want to do in real life, she added.

“It helps you achieve that to some extent,” she said. “You might be a really bad singer, but in AI, you can sing really well, like a pop star.”

Pika steps into a competitive landscape dominated by giants like OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s new Vibes, but it’s creating a very different niche. Sora is focused on creating cinematic and photorealistic text-to-video, while Vibes is focused on bringing AI-generated video feeds to the massive Meta ecosystem. But Becca positions itself closer to the ground-level habits of Gen Z and Generation Alpha: it’s less about mass-polished production, and more about mass-polished products. Passion, creativity and interactivity for everyday storytelling.

With that said, here’s more AI news.

Sharon Goldman
sharon.goldman@fortune.com
@sharonggoldman

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Artificial intelligence in the news

Challenges of renting apartments in San Francisco during the AI ​​boom. According to New York Timesa wave of artificial intelligence startups is reshaping San Francisco’s housing market, driving up demand and prices and intensifying competition for apartments. After his company Cluely raised $5.3 million, its 22-year-old founder Roy Li rented eight luxury apartments just steps from the office to foster a “frat house” work culture — a symbol of how tech companies are reshaping city life. Thanks to growth from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, rents in San Francisco rose 6% last year, more than double the rate of New York City, where neighborhoods near AI hubs like Mission Bay saw a 13% rise. The scramble for housing has led renters to tour dozens of units, face same-day rejection and even bring cash for viewings, raising new concerns about affordability and displacement in one of America’s most expensive cities.

TSMC’s earnings rose 39% to beat estimates and set another record in demand for AI chips. CNBC reported this Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported record third-quarter results as surging demand for artificial intelligence chips pushed its profits 39.1% higher than a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates. Revenue rose 30.3% to NT$989.92 billion (US$33.1 billion), while net income rose to NT$452.3 billion. CEO CC Wei said growing consumer adoption of AI models strengthens the company’s conviction in the “big trend of AI,” prompting TSMC to raise its 2025 revenue growth forecast to the mid-30% range and boost planned energy investments to at least $40 billion. High-performance computing, including AI and 5G chips, accounted for 57% of revenue, and advanced 7nm and smaller chips accounted for 74% of chip sales, underscoring TSMC’s central role in providing high-end processors to customers like Nvidia and Apple.

Spotify partners with Sony, Universal, Warner, and more to develop AI music products. Spotify is collaborating with major players in the music industry — including Sony, Universal, Warner, Merlin and Believe — to develop “responsible” AI products aimed at empowering artists and songwriters, Variety reported, marking one of the first large-scale collaborations between streaming and music rights holders in the AI ​​space. As part of a broader drive to invest heavily in AI research and product development, Spotify plans to build an AI lab and product product team focused on four main goals: creating tools through advance agreements with brands and publishers; Allow artists and rights holders to participate in generative music technologies; Opening new revenue sources; Strengthening connections between artists and fans. The initiative reflects a growing effort across the music industry to shape how AI is integrated into creative and business practices.

Artificial Intelligence Evaluation

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Eye on the AI ​​numbers

26%

That’s how many Americans are aware of AI-driven mental health tools, according to a new YouGov poll that highlights how far these tools have to go to win over an audience. Only 11% say they would consider using one of these technologies, and confidence is even lower – just 8% say they trust AI in this area, while 40% explicitly do not. Top reasons for skepticism: Concerns about lack of human nuance (53%), harmful or inaccurate advice (50%), and data privacy (49%). Despite the influx of startups and investment in AI therapy apps, only 4% of Americans have ever tried one.

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