OmniHuman-1: ByteDance's AI that turns photos into talking videos
From single photos to lifelike videos: How ByteDance's latest AI aims to transform content creation and what it means for marketers.
The future of video creation arrived quietly this month, wrapped in a deceptively simple promise: give ByteDance's new AI model a photo, and it will return a startlingly realistic video of that person speaking, moving, and expressing emotions.
OmniHuman-1 isn't just another AI model—it's a glimpse into how we'll create content tomorrow.
This article will explore how OmniHuman-1 creates videos from a single photo, the rapid growth of AI video in marketing, and how brands are already using these AI avatars. The technology is moving fast, and it's changing how we create content. Let's take a look.
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Patrecia Meliana
What is OmniHuman?
OmniHuman-1 is a powerful AI video generation model designed to bring still images to life with natural movements and accurate speech synchronization.
Unlike older deepfake technology, which needed large amounts of data to create believable videos, OmniHuman-1 only requires a single image and an audio file to generate high-quality, realistic human animations.
It has been trained on over 18,700 hours of video, allowing it to mimic human expressions and body movements with impressive accuracy.
OmniHuman-1 stands out from previous AI video generators in three key ways:
- Single-image input that eliminates the need for multiple reference photos or complex training data
- Advanced emotion synthesis that captures micro-expressions and natural movement patterns
- Real-time rendering that allows for instant adjustments and iterations
AI video generation today
Walking through Silicon Valley these days, you can feel the buzz around AI video generation. It's not just tech enthusiasts talking anymore - marketers, creators, and brands are all diving in.
And the numbers back up what I'm seeing on the ground. Financial analysts expect the AI video market to hit a whopping US$2.5 billion by 2032, which honestly doesn't surprise me given how fast companies are adopting these tools.
Think about that for a minute - in just a couple of years, the majority of ads and content we see might be AI-generated. I've been watching this space for years, and even I'm amazed at how quickly things are moving.
4 brands already leveraging AI avatars
As OmniHuman-1 makes waves in AI innovation, some brands have already integrated similar AI avatar technology into their strategies. Here’s how leading companies are using AI-generated avatars for marketing, customer engagement, and entertainment:
1. Prada and Calvin Klein
These fashion giants have collaborated with AI influencer Lil Miquela, who boasts over 3 million Instagram followers. Lil Miquela has been featured in various campaigns, effectively bridging the gap between technology and fashion to reach a tech-savvy audience.
2. IKEA
The Swedish furniture retailer partnered with virtual influencer Imma for in-store displays. This collaboration brought a modern twist to IKEA's brand activities, blending the digital and physical worlds to enhance customer engagement.
3. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
HPE developed "Antonio Nearly," an AI avatar of CEO Antonio Neri. This avatar appears in videos, audio, text chats, and even holograms, allowing the company to maintain a consistent leadership presence across various platforms.
4. KFC's AI Colonel Sanders
Fast-food giant KFC introduced a virtual version of Colonel Sanders to modernize its brand appeal. Using AI-generated avatars, KFC has created digital spokespeople that interact with audiences across social media, providing a fresh and engaging take on brand storytelling.
The true potential of tools like OmniHuman-1 lies not just in their technical capabilities, but in how creatively brands and creators will use them to connect with audiences in new ways.
This post is created by ContentGrow, providing scalable and tailored content creation services for B2B brands and publishers worldwide. Book a discovery call to learn more.
