Meta has recently introduced new generative AI video capabilities designed to enhance advertisements on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These cutting-edge tools aim to give advertisers more dynamic and engaging options, with features like Video Expansion and Image Animation expanding the company’s existing suite of advertising tools.
In a blog post on Wednesday, October 8, Meta shared that these AI-driven features are gradually being rolled out and are expected to be more widely accessible by early next year. One of the key innovations, Video Expansion, allows advertisers to use AI to generate unseen pixels in each video frame, thus expanding the aspect ratio of video ads. This means that advertisers can modify the dimensions of their ads without having to reshoot or re-edit content, making it more flexible for different screen sizes and formats.
Another exciting feature is Image Animation, which uses AI to bring static images to life, making them more interactive and captivating. For instance, advertisers can animate elements in their images—such as making strawberries around a jar of jam appear to float—giving their ads a more dynamic and eye-catching appeal. These AI-generated animations have the potential to make simple static ads far more engaging, potentially boosting audience interest and interaction.
Additionally, Meta is enhancing its partnership ad features with a new option for advertisers to upload an influencer’s image as the ‘hero image’ within a collection of ads through Ads Manager. The inclusion of a dual-header format in these collection ads leverages the authenticity and appeal of creator content, further helping brands engage with audiences in a more authentic way.
Meta has also announced the launch of a dedicated Videos tab on Facebook, where users will be able to explore various types of video content, including Reels, live streams, and longer-form videos. This new tab is expected to give users more streamlined access to different video formats, enhancing their overall experience on the platform.
These new AI tools are a significant expansion of Meta’s existing advertising features, which already include full image and text generation. As the competition among tech companies intensifies, Meta’s advancements follow similar trends in the industry. For example, Amazon recently unveiled its own AI tool designed to create short video ads based on product images. TikTok is also reportedly experimenting with AI-generated avatars for ads, while Google is looking into placing ads in its AI-generated summaries of search results, called AI Overviews.
With Meta’s latest innovations, the company is poised to stay at the forefront of AI-driven advertising, providing businesses with more creative ways to reach and engage audiences.
