Former Googlers AI startup OpenArt now creates ‘brainrot’ videos in just one click

A wave of AI-generated 'brainrot' videos is captivating the internet, particularly among younger audiences. These quirky clips showcase bizarre characters, such as a sneaker-clad shark and a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head. One of the startups leading this creative trend is OpenArt, established in 2022 by two former Google engineers. With approximately 3 million monthly active users, the company recently introduced an innovative 'one-click story' feature, currently in open beta. This new tool enables users to transform a single sentence, script, or song into a one-minute narrative video, perfect for platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Whether users want to create light-hearted content or more serious explainer videos, OpenArt’s One-Click Story feature provides three distinct templates: Character Vlog, Music Video, and Explainer. For the Character Vlog, users can upload their character’s image and input a prompt, while the software analyzes any uploaded song and generates animations that reflect its themes, like flowers blossoming in a garden. Editing capabilities are also built into the platform, allowing users to revisit the storyboard mode to refine individual clips and prompts for a polished final product. OpenArt integrates over 50 AI models, including DALLE-3, GPT, Imagen, Flux Kontext, and Stable Diffusion, providing users with a wide array of creative tools. The aim is to simplify the process of becoming an AI creator, a medium that continues to thrive despite ongoing debates about its implications. While the potential for rapid content creation is enticing, ethical concerns loom large. Issues regarding the imitation of artistic styles, copyright rights, and the risk of spreading misinformation need careful consideration. For instance, during our evaluation, the Character Vlog option raised concerns about potential intellectual property infringement with the inclusion of well-known characters like Pikachu and Super Mario. Legal challenges have already emerged, such as Disney and Universal's lawsuit against AI firm Midjourney over AI-generated images. Coco Mao, co-founder and CEO of OpenArt, emphasized the company’s efforts to navigate these legal waters. "We aim to be cautious around IP infringement; our models are designed to reject uploads of known IP characters, though sometimes things slip through," she explained. OpenArt is also interested in negotiating licensing agreements with major IP owners. A key feature that distinguishes OpenArt is its focus on character consistency throughout videos. Unlike many video generation tools that produce isolated clips, OpenArt ensures that both the visual elements and storyline remain cohesive. Mao stated, "A common issue with AI is maintaining consistent characters within a video. Without this consistency, audience immersion is compromised." Looking forward, OpenArt plans to enhance its one-click feature by enabling users to create videos featuring dialogues between multiple characters and is also developing a mobile app. The platform operates on a credit-based model, offering various subscription plans. The most basic option starts at $14 per month for 4,000 credits, which includes four One-Click stories, 40 videos, and more. OpenArt has successfully raised $5 million in funding from Basis Set Ventures and DCM Ventures, and reports a healthy cash flow, projecting an annual revenue rate exceeding $20 million.