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Mona Lisa rapping: Microsoft’s new AI app makes iconic painting sing, viral video surprises people

“DaVinci is rolling in his grave,” joked an X user while reacting to a video of Microsoft’s new AI app making Mona Lisa rap.

Published on: Apr 20, 2024, 10:31:19 IST
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A video of the Mona Lisa, the iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci, rapping like a pro has taken over social media. If you ask yourself, ‘What on Earth is happening?’, let us clear up your confusion. It is all because of Microsoft’s new AI app, VASA-1. This product can transform the still photos of people’s faces into lively animation.

The image, taken from a video created using Microsoft's new AI app VASA-1, shows Mona Lisa rapping. (Screengrab)
The image, taken from a video created using Microsoft's new AI app VASA-1, shows Mona Lisa rapping. (Screengrab)

Originally posted on Microsoft’s official website, the video has gone viral on social media. Here’s an X post that captures Mona Lisa’s rapping.

Since being shared, the AI-generated video has gone crazy viral. Till now, it has accumulated over seven million views - and the numbers are still increasing. The share has further collected tons of comments from people.

What did X users say about this AI video?

“The Mona Lisa clip had me rolling on the floor laughing,” shared an X user.

“Mona Lisa rapping Paparazzi is wild,” added another.

“DaVinci is rolling in his grave,” joked a third.

“This is crazy, man,” joined a fourth.

“The Mona Lisa one is unbelievable, haha,” posted a fifth.

“Oh, man. If only Da Vinci could witness this,” wondered a sixth.

“Cool demo! But very soon, people will have difficulty telling a real person from a fake one just by watching video content. This will bring a huge amount of fraud and scams on the Internet. It is now imperative to pioneer novel methods to restore and fortify trust in the age of AI,” wrote a seventh.

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According to Microsoft's official website, VASA is a “framework for generating lifelike talking faces of virtual characters with appealing visual affective skills”.

The premiere model, VASA-1, can produce lip movements that synchronise with the audio besides capturing a “large spectrum of facial nuances and natural head motions”.

Regarding when this app will be available to the public, Microsoft wrote, “We have no plans to release an online demo, API, product, additional implementation details, or any related offerings until we are certain that the technology will be used responsibly and in accordance with proper regulations.”

What are your thoughts on this video of Mona Lisa rapping?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More