Vine 2.0? “We’re bringing back Vine”: Elon Musk teases AI-powered reboot of the classic app

Short-form video might be getting a new twist—one only Elon Musk could deliver.

Early this morning, Musk posted on X: “We’re bringing back Vine, but in AI form.” That single line was enough to light up the platform, setting off a frenzy of speculation, nostalgia, and debate. With one sentence, Musk cracked open the door to the possible return of a cultural icon—with artificial intelligence at its core.

We’re bringing back Vine, but in AI form

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 24, 2025

The post comes just three years after Musk polled his fans if Vine should be brought back.  Nearly 70% of respondents voting in favor of bringing it back.

A Six-Second Icon

Vine wasn’t just an app—it was a moment in internet history. Launched in 2013 by Dom Hofmann, Rus Yusupov, and Colin Kroll (and acquired by Twitter for $30 million even before it went live), Vine let users share looping six-second videos that packed more punch than many full-length shows.

It didn’t take long for Vine to shape online humor, launch careers, and give rise to a new format of storytelling—snappy, raw, and wildly creative. By 2015, it had over 200 million users. But by 2017, it was gone. Twitter pulled the plug after struggling to monetize it, while rivals like Instagram and Snapchat moved faster and gave creators better tools—and longer video lengths.

Still, Vine’s influence never really left. TikTok may dominate now, but the DNA traces back to Vine’s looping roots.

Vine with AI in the Mix

Musk didn’t offer details, but the phrase “in AI form” is doing all the heavy lifting. It signals more than a reboot—it hints at a complete rethinking of how short-form video is created and consumed.

And this isn’t the first time he’s floated the idea. In 2022, Musk ran a poll on X asking if Vine should be brought back. Nearly 70% of respondents said yes. The post drew massive attention—even MrBeast jumped in, encouraging Musk to take on TikTok. Today’s tweet feels like a follow-through, just with a futuristic twist.

AI has come a long way since that poll. We’re now at a point where users don’t need to pick up a phone to create content. They can input an idea or script, and the platform can auto-generate a six-second clip using generative video tools. That’s already possible with products like Sora, Runway, and Veo 3—and now, it may be going mainstream.

Musk’s post quickly sparked a trending topic on X: “From nostalgia to controversy, X users debate if AI can truly bring back the magic of Vine.” Some insiders speculate the project could be called Imagine, in line with Musk’s habit of picking dreamy, one-word product names.

If AI is core to the experience, the new Vine could include instant remixing, personalized content feeds, and tools that let users create without lifting a camera. Whether that feels like creative freedom or algorithmic chaos is still up for debate.

Not Everyone’s on Board

As always with Musk, the response has been split. Some users cheered the idea. “Thank you Elon excellent idea,” one posted. Others weren’t buying it. One user wrote, “People liked Vine because of its human creators and lack of algorithm. Adding AI… will just be a cheap imitation IMO.” Another flat-out said, “no one outside India wants this.”

Skeptics aren’t just annoyed—they’re worried. Will AI strip out the raw creativity that made Vine special? Can algorithmically generated skits replace the chaotic energy of early internet comedy?

That’s more than a vibe check. It’s a serious question now that AI is capable of generating entire video scenes, voiceovers, and even deepfakes. YouTube’s new guidelines require creators to label AI content. If Vine 2.0 is going this route, it may need guardrails, too.

What Went Wrong Before—and What Could Be Different This Time

Vine’s original downfall had less to do with creativity and more to do with cash. Twitter never figured out how to turn the platform into a business. It had no real revenue-sharing, no robust ad model, and little support for top creators. Byte, a follow-up app from Vine’s cofounder, tried again in 2020, but shut down in 2023.

If Musk is serious, this version will likely plug into X’s broader ecosystem—monetization, crypto integration, maybe even AI-generated ad content. And with Musk pushing for a full-stack “everything app,” this could be one more way to hook younger users into the X platform.

As of this writing (10:03 AM EDT), there’s still no official product, roadmap, or name. Just one tweet and a trail of speculation.

But that’s all it took last time for Vine to go viral.