Goku, Yet Again An Open Source Alternative To OpenAI
No fun days for Sam Altman — first Elon Musk’s hostile bid, and now Goku. ByteDance launched Goku, an advanced AI model for image and video generation. This is yet another challenge to OpenAI and governments like the U.S. that aim to secure access to AI technology. However, it also lowers the barrier for businesses to create value. To capture this value, business leaders must prioritize AI literacy.
What is Goku?
Goku produces high-quality visuals from text prompts. It is using rectified flow Transformers, a type of AI model that generates images and videos more smoothly and accurately by improving the way information flows through the model. Think of it like a high-tech artist that refines its brushstrokes to make digital creations look more natural and realistic. The result will be less glitches and less distortions.
The Rise of Open Models like Goku
Goku is an open-source AI models like Llama, DeepSeek. This is good news for many businesses and startups around the world but it’s bad news for OpenAI. As it is becoming clear that having the best model alone does not ensure long-term success. It reinforces that model “regulation” won’t work as the U.S. might have envisioned. As I have written before: Open-source software can not be easily restricted by trade barriers.
The Real Value Not Goku But It’s Application
Goku, like other models before, is driving down the cost of production. We saw this happen in coding. We saw it in writing. And now, with videos. Models like Goku and Sora can generate imaginative content, such as “a chicken made out of fried chicken.” However, the true value lies in how businesses integrate and utilize AI-generated videos, text, and images.
In marketing, we ask the creative director from the agency for ideas. They come back with 20 different ones. But having creative ideas is not enough — the real challenge is deciding which of the 20 to choose and how to implement them effectively. Our focus will shift from creation to selection and implementation. AI’s success will depend on its practical applications.
AI Literacy Is Essential
To help integrate AI and generative AI into every part of a business, companies need to prioritize AI literacy. A top-down approach will not work, as there is no single AI application. AI will impact every aspect, from marketing and sales to customer experience and production.
Therefore, in the eCornell Certificate Program “Designing and Building AI Solutions,” we explore AI applications across various industries.
The Risks Of Deepfakes
As AI lowers the barriers to content creation, abuse is also becoming more feasible. Deepfakes—AI-generated images, videos, and audio designed to mimic real people—pose serious risks. Already in 2022, I demonstrated how easily they can be created. This increases the risk of misinformation, identity theft, and political manipulation.
With tools like Goku making hyper-realistic content easier to produce, responsible AI use and deepfake detection must become priorities. Society must become more skeptical of digital content and invest in solutions to identify and counteract fakes. Once again, the only effective cure is to invest in AI literacy.
Goku Shows China’s Growing Influence In AI
The rise of Goku highlights that U.S. dominance in AI is no longer assured. Chinese companies are advancing rapidly, emphasizing AI literacy and application. To stay competitive, organizations must understand and effectively use these technologies.
OpenAI, once unchallenged, now faces fierce competition. Having the best AI model is no longer enough. Sustainable success will depend on building ecosystems that make AI tools accessible, adaptable, and valuable in real-world scenarios. For that aim OpenAI needs money and thus Elon Musk’s offer is quite toxic.
The future of AI will be shaped not just by technological advancements like Goku but by those who can best implement them.
