Make it Pop #08 - Top 10 creative AI launches of 2025

Welcome to the very last Make it Pop of 2025!

I want to start with a massive THANK YOU. Your messages and encouragement kept me going this year. Juggling a full-time job, content creation, and a personal life wasn't easy, but your support made every late night worth it.

I stumbled into the creative AI space by luck at work earlier this year and thought, “Why not share what I’m learning?” That simple idea is how we got here. My goal has always been to make the most of every opportunity and deliver something valuable to you.

But enough about me, let’s look at the year in review! Here is my curated list of the Top 10 Creative AI updates that defined 2025.

1. Nano Banana Pro | November 2025

Nano Banana Pro redefined AI by merging reasoning with image generation. It conquered text rendering and accuracy issues while enabling consistent character workflows, making tools viable for professional, precise art direction.

2. Sora 2 | September 2025

Sora 2 broke records with one million downloads in five days. This viral launch was fueled by breakthrough physics simulation, synchronized audio, and user "Cameos," redefining AI video as world simulation.

3. ElevenLabs | December 2025

ElevenLabs redefined audio by merging speech, music, and agents. Used by 41% of the Fortune 500 and pioneering celebrity licensing, it became the undisputed leader in speech & sound.

4. Veo & Veo 3.1 | October 2025

Veo pioneered cinematic video with native audio, speech, and sound. Integrated into Hollywood workflows, it bridged the gap between the creator economy and blockbuster production.

5. Midjourney V7 | April 2025

Midjourney V7 dominated by delivering superior realism and artistic control early. With style references, video and other features, it captivated the creative community by mastering aesthetics and consistency. (Note: This is the text from the PDF, but remember we discussed upgrading the "video and other features" line to mention "Director Mode" and "volumetric depth" if you prefer the punchier version!)

6. Suno AI | September 2025

Suno v5 legitimized AI music by delivering human-quality vocals and exportable stems. Partnering with Warner Music and powering Billboard hits, it transformed generative audio into a viable, professional industry standard.

7. Kling AI | December 2025

Kling redefined video AI with 1080p & 60fps fluidity and three-minute clips. Its native video editing and character locking capabilities bridged the critical gap between raw generation and professional VFX.

8. Flux 2.0 | November 2025

Flux claimed the open-source crown by combining superior image quality with powerful LoRA training. This open-weight flexibility allowed users to fine-tune specific styles, establishing Flux as the new community standard.

9. Runway Gen-4.5 | December 2025

Runway Gen-4.5 proved a startup could dethrone tech giants, beating Veo 3.1 & Sora 2 in benchmarks. With Adobe integration and precise motion tools, it established itself as the objectively superior professional video model.

10. Adobe Firefly | October 2025

The safe harbor for enterprises. Firefly became the go-to commercially indemnified choice for the Fortune 500, driving 90% adoption among Adobe's enterprise clients.

As models improved, we saw AI content finally hit the mainstream, from Nano Banana and Sora getting into consumers' hands to the first major AI ads from big brands.

Every week brought crazy new updates. The competition amongst model builders was immense. That served us creatives well: giving us better models and more options than ever before.

2025 was the year of realism, greater control, better resolution, and reasoning.

Wishing for the new year to bring us better physics and even more creative control!

2026, we are ready!!

I hope you accomplish everything you set your mind to this year. May 2026 be truly transformational for your personal and professional lives! The future is in our hands, so let’s be high agency people and make things happen for ourselves.

Especially in this AI era, that agency is our biggest advantage. Let's keep testing new tools, seeing what sticks, and building our own leverage. Let's go! 🚀

Yours,

Khulan