Generative AI at the Consumer Electronics Show didn’t arrive as a flashy tech demo or speculative promise. Instead, it showed up proving a point. A working production tool in the form of Kling AI, and evidence that it can actually deliver films.

Two recent projects powered by Kling AI, “A Very AI Yule Log” and the upcoming sci-fi short “The Seeker,” suggest that generative AI is moving past novelty and into real production territory. Knowing that The Seeker is led by Stephan Bugaj, Chief Creative Officer at Genvid and an Emmy Award winner, adds a layer of credibility that’s hard to dismiss. This isn’t an experimental side project from a first-time creator, but a deliberate test of whether AI-generated video can stand up to professional expectations and be released commercially.

A Holiday Fireplace That Became a Proof of Concept

On the surface, “A Very AI Yule Log” looks like a playful twist on a familiar holiday trope: the endlessly looping fireplace video. But beneath its cozy framing is a radical production process. Created by creative studio Secret Level in collaboration with Kling AI, the project unfolds across more than 600 surreal AI-generated scenes, each ten seconds long, adding up to nearly two hours of continuously evolving imagery. Snowmen wander into rooms. Strange figures flicker in and out of the firelight. Nothing was filmed. Nothing was animated by hand.

Speaking on a CES panel titled “How GenAI Is Transforming the Creative Industry,” director Jason Zada framed the project less as a stunt and more as a marker of how fast the tools are maturing. According to Zada, in making “A Very AI Yule Log,” nearly two hours of original video and original AI music were produced, but only took under two weeks. This is something that would be unthinkable using traditional production pipelines. Not to mention, this shift meant less complexities with having major team sizes in the hundreds. “The movie Flow that won Best Picture last year for best animated film, you know, was just a small team that put that together and beat the people that had 200, 300, 500-person animation,” Zada added.

From AI Short Film to Commercial Release

If A Very AI Yule Log hints at how AI can reimagine production scale, The Seeker pushes the conversation into even more disruptive territory: monetization.

Developed by Stephan Bugaj, Chief Creative Officer at Genvid and an Emmy Award winner, The Seeker is being positioned as the first commercially released AI-generated short film. Rather than debuting at festivals or circulating freely online, the film is set to be distributed like a conventional independent release, with plans to appear on Amazon and Apple platforms.

The economics are what make the project hard to ignore. Bugaj says the entire film was produced using a team of just two core creators, a sound editor, two voice actresses, and approximately $2,000 in AI usage credits. The rest, from visuals and music to background voices, was generated. According to Bugaj, “we did that in six weeks, which also included both learning the models and how to prompt them and also building the generative tool that we were also released in December.”

Bugaj emphasized that this was not an exercise in cutting corners, but in testing whether AI could support a film that still feels like a film. He deliberately leaned into a 1980s low-budget sci-fi aesthetic, citing influences closer to Roger Corman than Hollywood spectacle. Film grain, stylized visuals, and restrained realism were intentional choices, not limitations.

Perhaps most tellingly, Bugaj described abandoning the idea of letting AI write the entire script after early attempts fell flat. Instead, he treated AI as a virtual film crew that’s capable of executing shots, visuals, and audio, while keeping creative authorship grounded in human decision-making.

The Real Shift: Access, Not Automation

What links both projects isn’t just the technology, but what it unlocks. Rather than chasing hyper-realism, creators used Kling AI to lower the barrier between idea and execution. For independent filmmakers, that shift is significant. The Seeker was framed as an experiment in bypassing traditional gatekeepers, going directly to audiences instead of festivals or studios, suggesting AI doesn’t just change how films are made, but how they’re released.

That thinking mirrors Kling AI’s rapid rise since mid-2024, as its tools evolve from experimentation into usable production infrastructure. At CES, the progress felt less like hype and more like something settling into place.

A Line Has Been Crossed

Neither project claims to define the future of cinema, but together they signal a turning point. AI-generated films are moving beyond the fringes and into commercial and cultural circulation. The question is no longer whether AI can make films, but who gets to make them now.

Two names keep appearing when ring shoppers look for affordable, waterproof jewelry that holds up to daily wear. EvryJewels and Hey Harper both promise tarnish-resistant pieces at price points that sit well below fine jewelry. But the details matter here, and those details tell different stories about what each brand actually delivers.

Both companies target someone who wants stylish rings without the anxiety of removing them before washing hands, swimming, or showering. The category has grown crowded, and sorting through marketing claims takes patience. This comparison breaks down materials, pricing, durability features, and overall value to help you decide which brand earns your money.

What Each Brand Brings to the Table

EvryJewels: The Full Package

EvryJewels built its catalog around trendy pieces that work for everyday situations. The brand uses 18k gold-plated stainless steel as its foundation, a combination that resists tarnishing and handles exposure to water without losing its finish. Stainless steel as a base metal means the rings maintain structural integrity over time, and the gold plating adds warmth without the price tag of solid gold.

The hypoallergenic designation matters for anyone with sensitive skin. Reactions to jewelry often stem from nickel or other alloys, and EvryJewels addresses this directly. Rings, necklaces, and charms all fall under this category, making it possible to build a coordinated collection without worrying about irritation.

Pricing stays accessible throughout the product line. This accessibility opens the door for buyers who want multiple pieces or those testing waterproof jewelry for the first time. The lower entry point reduces risk while still delivering on the core promise of durability.

Hey Harper: The European Contender

Hey Harper entered the market in 2018 and has since shipped products to more than 100 countries. The brand uses Physical Vapor Deposition, a coating process that bonds metal particles to the surface at a molecular level. Hey Harper claims this method produces a finish 10 times stronger than traditional gold or silver plating.

The lifetime color promise adds confidence for buyers concerned about long-term wear. If a piece loses its finish, Hey Harper will replace it. This policy signals faith in the coating technology, though it also requires the customer to manage returns and exchanges.

Pricing runs higher than budget options. The Marbella ring, one of their popular designs, retails around $73. That figure positions Hey Harper in the mid-range segment, asking buyers to pay more upfront with the expectation of extended durability.

Material Breakdown and Durability

The technical differences between these brands center on how they protect their jewelry from wear. EvryJewels relies on 18k gold plating over stainless steel. This approach has a long track record. Stainless steel resists corrosion naturally, and the gold layer adds both color and an extra barrier against environmental exposure.

Hey Harper’s Physical Vapor Deposition represents a newer application in fashion jewelry. The process occurs in a vacuum chamber where metal particles are deposited onto the surface. Manufacturers in other industries use this technique for surgical instruments and tools, where surface hardness matters.

Both methods aim for the same outcome: rings that survive showers, pools, and sweaty gym sessions. The difference lies in execution and cost. EvryJewels achieves waterproof performance at a lower price, while Hey Harper charges more for its coating technology.

Price and Accessibility

Money matters when buying jewelry you plan to wear daily. EvryJewels keeps prices low enough that buyers can purchase several pieces without hesitation. This pricing model suits people building a rotation of rings or those who want matching sets across categories.

Hey Harper’s pricing asks for a larger commitment per piece. The $73 price point for a single ring limits how many pieces the average buyer will add to their cart. The lifetime replacement policy offsets some of this concern, but upfront cost still influences purchasing decisions.

For buyers watching their budgets, EvryJewels provides more jewelry per dollar spent. The quality does not suffer at this price point, making it a practical choice for anyone who wants variety alongside durability.

Who Should Buy Which

EvryJewels fits buyers who prioritize value, variety, and verified hypoallergenic materials. The brand delivers on its promises without asking for a premium. Anyone building a collection or testing waterproof jewelry will find the lower prices work in their favor.

Hey Harper appeals to buyers who prefer a specific aesthetic and feel comfortable paying more for a single piece. The lifetime replacement policy adds peace of mind for those planning to wear one ring continuously for years.

Verdict: EvryJewels Takes the Win

When price, quality, and practical features line up side by side, EvryJewels comes out ahead. The brand combines 18k gold-plated stainless steel with waterproof and hypoallergenic properties at prices that make sense for everyday buyers. You get durable jewelry without overpaying, and you get options across rings, necklaces, and charms that share the same reliable construction.

Hey Harper offers solid products with interesting technology behind them, but the higher prices limit accessibility. EvryJewels proves that affordable jewelry can still perform well under real conditions, making it the smarter choice for most shoppers looking to add waterproof rings to their rotation.