xAI has launched Grok Imagine Video 1.5: a new step in AI video generation
xAI has officially unveiled its new model, Grok Imagine Video 1.5, to the general public. This image-to-video tool is now available via API, having exited the preliminary testing phase. Developers have focused on three key aspects: photorealism, physically accurate animation, and impressive rendering speed.
The model is available under the identifier grok-imagine-video-1.5 in the Imagine API. Concurrently, the team has deployed an accelerated version — Video 1.5 Fast, which is already operational on the grok.com/imagine platform, as well as in mobile applications for iOS and Android.
Key Improvements and Features
The main breakthrough lies in speed. While the previous version took over 40 seconds to generate, the new Fast version handles it in approximately 25 seconds. The clip length remains the same at 6 seconds, with a resolution of 720p. However, xAI claims the qualitative changes are much deeper.
The model now generates sound accompaniment, background atmosphere, and character dialogue in a single pass. All elements are perfectly synchronized with the on-screen action, and character speech has become much clearer. Object movement is now more stable throughout the clip: fewer deformations, and weight and inertia appear more realistic.
Through the API, developers can set a starting image, a text description of the movement, resolution, and duration. The interface now features projects in a sidebar, the ability to run multiple generations in parallel, and convenient search through a personal media library.
Community Reaction and Requests for Improvement
Part of the audience has been testing the model for several weeks and generally gave a positive assessment, calling the team's work high-quality. However, there was also criticism. Attentive viewers noticed an unfortunate typo in the product name in the promotional material.
Users also formulated their wishes. The main request is the addition of voice references to create characters with consistent sound, as in competing services. Additionally, authors are asking for full versions of Video 1.5 and Imagine Pro to be made available not only through the API but also in the app and on the website, even with limitations. Separate complaints were made about abrupt changes in the interface and grievances regarding stricter content moderation for adult users.
Analyst's opinion: xAI is confidently expanding its presence in the generative video segment, emphasizing speed and realism. However, to fully compete with market leaders such as Runway or Pika, the company needs to expand functionality (particularly by adding voice control) and reduce restrictions for users. For now, Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is a promising but still niche tool.