Imagine: Learnings, Public Beta, and Nano Bananas (1)
This week, I share key learnings from our limited beta launch, unveil our new Vibe Mode and Nano Banana-powered upgrades, plus dive into the latest AI developments including Google's Genie 3 and why Meta's hiring spree might be stalling.
August 31, 2025
The Past Few Weeks
We launched our closed beta in late July to a very limited group of users, and something incredible happened - several beta testers started sharing access with their friends organically. That's the kind of signal that gets me excited as a founder. When people care enough about your product to evangelise it without being asked, you know you're onto something.
The past few weeks have been heads-down building mode for our small but mighty team of four, split between San Francisco and Dehradun. We're intentionally staying lean and scrappy, and I'm finally feeling that shipping velocity we've been chasing for months.
AI News Roundup
Three developments that shaped my thinking this week:
Google's Genie 3 World Models What happened: Google unveiled Genie 3, their latest 3D world model generator.
My take: Impressive tech demo, but I'm seeing a pattern with these "breakthrough" launches - the hype often outpaces real-world consistency. Still, the underlying tech is solid and points to where we're headed.
Nano Banana Powers Our New Image Studio What happened: Google's superior Gemini 2.5 model dropped, one of the most capable we've seen.
My take: This is genuinely impressive. We're now integrating Nano Banana (built on this foundation) into our image pipeline. The quality jump is noticeable, though consistency still has room for improvement compared to the internet hype. Also worth noting - there's an interesting open source alternative in Qwen Image Edit from Alibaba that's significantly cheaper than closed models.
Meta's Hiring Troubles What happened: Reports suggest Meta's aggressive hiring spree is hitting roadblocks.
My take: I've talked to several engineers with inside knowledge, and the picture isn't pretty. When the tech giants stumble on talent acquisition, it creates opportunities for nimble teams like ours.
Product Updates
We've been busy reshaping our core focus and the results are exciting:
Vibe Mode - Alpha Rollout: We're introducing "Vibe Mode" - our conversational agent that understands your creative vision. generates frames and then translates it into polished videos. Just describe the vibe you're going for, and our AI agent handles the rest. Future versions will remember your brand context and style preferences, making each interaction smarter than the last.
Nano Banana Integration: Building on our Google partnership, we're now powered by their superior model on our Image Studio. The quality improvements are immediately noticeable - sharper renders, better prompt adherence, more consistent results.
Vinci-Clips Progress: Our open source project is taking shape nicely. While still pre-launch, I'm excited to give you an early peek. We'll be rolling this out more actively in the coming weeks - it's our way of giving back to the community that's supported us.
Edit Mode Reality Check: I need to be honest about Edit Mode. We were so excited about breaking the 5-10 second barrier that we rushed toward complexity before nailing the basics. Beta feedback was clear - users loved the concept but struggled with the execution. The interface felt overwhelming, and the infinite extension promise created more confusion than value.
Reality Check
As a small team, we have to be ruthless about focus. Rather than ship a half-baked feature that dilutes our core strength (incredible generation quality), we're taking a step back. We're rebuilding Edit Mode from the ground up, starting with simple trimming and basic scene addition before tackling the infinite extension vision. Sometimes the hardest product decision is admitting you need to slow down to get it right.
Let's be honest - there have been some incredible AI launches lately, but I'm seeing a disconnect between internet hype and actual performance. Consistency remains the biggest challenge across most models, including some of the most celebrated ones. That's exactly why we will continue to focus obsessively on reliability over flashy features.
Community & What's Next
Our beta community continues growing organically, which tells me we're solving real problems. The feedback loop has been invaluable for shaping our roadmap.
Join our Discord to get early access to Vibe Mode and connect with creators who are pushing the boundaries of AI video. Your input directly influences what we build next.
As always, reach out with questions or feedback. Back next time with more updates!
*Imagine is our weekly newsletter. We cover AI video marketing inspiration, product updates, community highlights, and some of my takes on what's new in the fast-evolving AI landscape.
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