Towards the end of 2024, TikTok‘s creator ByteDance launched its Seaweed AI video model. Naturally, I was extremely curious to see what this tech giant developed to compete against leading rivals like OpenAI’s Sora and Kuaishou’s Kling AI.
So, when I had a chance to experiment with this model, I gave it a try and used it to create a few sample videos. Read on, as I dissect this AI model to see what makes it so special, and how well it performs!
An Introduction To Seaweed AI
Developed by ByteDance and unveiled alongside PixelDance in September 2024, Seaweed AI is a powerful AI video generation model that stands out in editing and 3D rendering. Part of the Doubao AI model family, Seaweed AI can process text prompts and image uploads to generate videos of up to 30 seconds.
According to the president of ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, Tan Dai, its development is a result of extensive video data accumulated by Jianying and Douyin over the years.
Since Seaweed AI is also built on DiT architecture, it offers seamless transitioning across varying camera movements. This means it can better maintain subject, style, and environment consistency.
What Is My Personal Opinion of Seaweed AI?
After experimenting with Seaweed AI, I will admit how great it really is at producing good visual quality. But there were also artefacts or odd glitches to worry about.
Take this text to video generation as an example:
| Example 1 | |
| Prompt:
A person sitting in a cafe, watching other people rush by. |
Output: |
In this example, despite the cinematic composition, my attention was caught right away by the malformed hands. And there are the less obvious artefacts in the scene outside the cafe: morphing clothes of a man, and a significantly smaller car driving by.
Let's look at another example, this time generated with an uploaded image:
| Example 2 | |
Input image:
 Prompt: The camera moves out to show the whole view outside the window. |
Output: |
This video looks okay: it doesn't have any wonky or malformed elements, and the camera movements are realistic. But one thing I had to complain about was the camera actually took a step back before it went out, and I had only about 1 second to view the scene outside.
What Features From Seaweed AI Do I Enjoy Most?
It’s safe to say that Seaweed AI caters well to those looking to create all sorts of visually striking content. To this end, let me break down its key features and benefits that foster a comprehensive video creation experience.
Dynamic & Cinematic Visuals
Seaweed AI has been well-developed to handle high-energy sequences, which means I can use it to produce dynamic videos with complex elements. For instance, I can use it to create multi-shot videos featuring varied camera movements like zoom, pan, and even tracking. It will also do well to maintain consistency in style, characters, and environment.
Strong Prompt Understanding
Seaweed AI’s ability to interpret complex prompts means it can visualize almost any narrative. This also includes accurately conveying expressive details in subjects to deliver a grounded and immersive visual experience. So, whether you are a hobbyist or a professional, it can help you create all kinds of imaginative videos that stand out.
Sophisticated 3D Rendering
Seaweed AI can employ cutting-edge rendering techniques to create unique, 3D videos with a high level of depth and realism. Instead of settling for flat-looking output, it can generate detail-rich animations and bring any imaginative concept to life with impeccably captivating results.
Extensive Style Support
When generating videos, I believe it always helps to have a broad spectrum of styles to choose from. Luckily, Seaweed AI supports a wide range of aesthetics that will help anyone make never-before-seen videos. Whether it be Noir, 3D, Pixar, Anime, or any other unique art style, you can use this AI video model to explore them all.
How To Access Seaweed AI?
I accessed Seaweed AI via ByteDance’s Dreamina AI platform, where it’s available alongside its sibling AI video model, PixelDance. Just follow the steps I’ve laid out to get started:
Step 1: Go To Dreamina's AI Video Generator
Go to the Dreamina website, and then log into the platform, you will need to follow the platform’s registration process to create an account. Then click Video generator to get access to its video generation platform.
Step 2: Select the Seaweed AI Model
Select "Video S2.0Pro" from the model list to start using Seaweed AI.
Step 3: Upload Image/Input Text Prompt
Input your image prompt or text prompt. Note that the video duration setting is limited to 5s. And the aspect ratio will only be customizable for text to video generation.
Step 4: Generate Video
Now you're ready to start the generation. Within minutes, you'll be able to preview and download the final output. Remember, you can always refine your prompts and repeat the process for different outputs.
Better Way to Access Seaweed AI
The problem with Dreamina is that not everyone can access it easily. And the more recommended way to start using Seaweed AI is via Pollo AI. It's an all-in-one image and video generation platform that allows you to access not just Seaweed, but also other industry-leading AI models like Hailuo AI, Luma, Kling AI, Runway, PixVerse AI, and others.
Moreover, Pollo AI is a more user-friendly solution. Also, it comes with many AI video effects and tools in one convenient place. Besides, Pollo AI is more reliable, as there is low risk of dealing with downtimes on any given day. Plus, it has a free plan, and you can experience Seaweed AI at no cost!
My Final Take on Seaweed AI
Competition in the AI video generation space keeps getting fiercer, but with Seaweed AI, I believe ByteDance can shake up the market. This AI video model can be a valuable asset to anyone looking to build lifelike animations with multi-scene stories. So, I highly recommend that you check it out by heading over to Pollo AI for a free test drive!