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Editor's note, April 3: On March 24, OpenAI announced that it will shut down its AI video generation app, Sora. You can still use Sora for now. OpenAI said in a help center post that the last day you can use the Sora app is April 26, and the last day for the API is September 24. We will keep this list up to date as changes occur. If you’re looking for an AI video service for a long-term project, we recommend choosing another program.
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The most complex AI models are those powering AI video generators. After spending years developing chatbots and image generators, AI bigwigs like OpenAI, Midjourney and Adobe started building even more advanced tech that could animate photos and create short video clips. But not all AI video companies can rise to that challenge, and there's a big difference in the quality of their outputs. That’s why CNET reviewers have spent time thoroughly testing each program to find the best one for you, no matter your project, budget or creative needs.
The best AI video generators create clips that align with what you want while having as few errors as possible. But hallucinations happen with even the best AI programs, so those with more advanced features and hands-on controls let you further customize your videos, offering better odds of getting the clip you want. Testing a service’s creativity, accuracy and response speed are just the beginning, though. You also ought to consider the legal and ethical ramifications of using creative AI.
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Many creators, publishers and content catalog owners are worried that their content was used to train AI models without their permission or compensation. There are also concerns that AI-generated content could violate existing copyright protections and that AI companies aren’t able to prevent the creation of potentially abusive and illegal AI content. No AI company is immune to these issues, including our top picks below, but some come with less information and protection than others. This is why you should always check a service’s privacy and usage policy before using it and always disclose your use of AI.
This is everything you need to know to pick the best AI video generator for you. For more, check out the best AI image generators and CNET’s AI essentials.
What’s the best AI video generator?
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