- Minimax's new Hailuo 02 AI video model has sparked viral trends in cats performing Olympic diving
- Video blends advanced physics-based animation with internet absurdity
- Though it's not the quality of Google Veo 3, Hailuo 2 is rapidly gaining popularity among casual AI users
I could see the cat walking on the diving board and imagine a call to the fire station and a massive crowd rushing to save it. Instead, the cat executed a triple paralysis of the Olympic caliber into the pool. Without my perception that it is an impossible feat and that it is an AI-generated video, I would check if the US swim team had a strange Friday situation.
Instead, it is a very viral video produced using the Hailuo 02 model of Chinese AI video developer Minimax. The millions of people watching cat diving videos may not be real, but it's realistic enough to advance into the race for AI video dominance, such as Google Veo 3 or Openai's Sora.
Minimax debuted Hailuo 02 earlier this summer, but the video viability of Faux Olympics suggests it will become a very popular tool for creating stills and text prompts in videos. The model currently produces 5-10-second clips, but it's more interesting thanks to its customisation of movement, camera effects, and impressive imitations of real-world physics, such as fur movement and water splashes.
The test of Cats Diving's hailuo 02 occurred organically when I tried the X-user RB Keeper (probably not my real name) and tried the Veo 3 tested prompt. From there it spread to millions of viewers, and to versions that appeared on Tiktok, Reddit and Instagram.
AI Video Battle
Please take a look
Hailuo 02 uses frame-by-frame physics simulation, attention mapping motion prompts, and multimodal input analysis. In other words, when you enter a strange idea, the model does its best to look and act like a real world approximation.
In particular, the Hailuo 02 is reportedly probably not very high-end glossy, but is much cheaper and faster than the Veo 3. Still, it is not limited to beta programs like Enterprise Services or VEO 3.
Cat diving videos are the pinnacle of internet trends, accessible tools, and very specific Venn diagrams of low stakes fun. You don't need to be a professional editor or own a supercomputer to try it out. And there are more upgrades on the horizon. Minimax outlined plans to integrate synchronized audio, lighting, texture controls, and longer clips.
For Google Veo 3 and other major players, I have a professional niche for now. But if they want to broaden their appeal to the public, they may see what small developers like Midjourney do in the V1 video model. Hailuo 02 is the kind of tool that gets people to delve into people like cats.
