Kling References, Channel42 Pipeline, GPT 4.1, Flora LoRA Portability, Replicate Cuts Topaz Prices and More!
Creative Workflow Roundup: No fluff, no sponsors, no affiliate links, just this week's key AI + creative tech news and my unfiltered lab notes.
In This Week’s Roundup: GPT 4.1 quietly arrives for non API use, Channel42 launches an all-in-one script-to-video pipeline, and Replicate lowers costs for Topaz upscaling. Flora enables portable LoRA checkpoints and shares FLUX control tips, while Kling 1.6 adds essential reference support. Google unifies Gemini and Veo in AI Studio, Krea makes lip sync instant, ElevenLabs debuts a playful soundboard, and Ethan Mollick urges critics to update their perspectives as AI proves to be more evolution than revolution in workplaces.
Replicate Cuts Topaz Upscale Prices
• Need to Know: Topaz models now bill per output; 720p → 4K/30fps clips now cost $0.22 per five seconds.
• Lab Notes: Lower cost nudges producers toward cloud enhancement vs local.
Kling v1.6 Gains References
• Need to Know: Replicate’s Kling v1.6 accepts up to four reference images for consistent branding and characters.
• Lab Notes: Reference slots are the new essential feature for video gen models/platofrms.
Channel42 Adds Script to Video Pipeline
• Need to Know: Channel42 adds tools for generating scripts and storyboards in addition to video gen across multiple models + editing and export all in the same product.
• Lab Notes: Idea‑to‑edit cycle shrinks to a single platform.
FLORA LoRA Portability
• Need to Know: Users can now upload or download custom FLUX Dev LoRA checkpoints for style portability.
• Lab Notes: Personal palettes can move with you between models.
Flora Posts FLUX Control Tutorial
• Need to Know: Flora’s walk‑through covers FLUX Canny and Depth, explaining how seed tweaks shape structure and mood.
• Lab Notes: Edge maps are the new storyboards for image direction.
Krea Adds Hedra Lipsync
• Need to Know: Krea Lipsync animates still characters with Hedra Labs speech, creating talking heads in minutes.
• Lab Notes: Expect lip sync to become a checkbox feature.
Claude Meets Replicate via MCP
• Need to Know: Charlie Holtz plugged Claude into Replicate through an MCP server, producing images inside chat in seconds.
• Lab Notes: Tool use inside context beats copy‑paste juggling.
GPT 4.1 Arrives in ChatGPT
• Need to Know: OpenAI quietly enabled non‑API access to GPT 4.1, a faster coding‑oriented variant.
• Lab Notes: Available via sneaky dropdown only!
Gen 4 Reference For Precise Object Placement
• Need to Know: Runway shows precise object placement using new Gen 4 reference feature-set.
• Lab Notes: Reference makes layout art‑direction friendly.
ElevenLabs SB1 Soundboard
• Need to Know: SB 1 generates live sound effects and ambient loops from text prompts.
• Lab Notes: Fun!
Google AI Studio Unifies Generative Media
• Need to Know: Google AI Studio merges Veo 2 video and Gemini 2 image tools into one workspace.
• Lab Notes: Google trying to counter tool sprawl.