Idomoo launches Strata – the first AI foundation model for layered video


The Israeli video personalisation company is launching Strata, a foundation model it says produces separate, editable layers for text, animation, footage, and actors rather than a single flat file. It’s a direct challenge to the architectural limits of diffusion-based video generators.


Every AI video model currently on the market produces the same thing: a flat file. You can watch it, share it, and trim it at the edges, but if you want to change the font, adjust an animation, or swap the background, you are essentially starting again.

That constraint has kept AI video at arm’s length from professional production workflows, where video has always been built in layers, separate tracks for text, motion graphics, footage, and audio that can be adjusted independently until the moment of final render.

Idomoo, the Israeli enterprise video personalisation company, is today announcing Strata, a generative AI foundation model it claims is the first purpose-built for layered video output. Rather than generating pixels, as Danny Kalish, Idomoo’s co-founder and CTO, frames it, Strata generates structure: independent layers with typography, animation, motion paths, and synchronised audio, all composed into what the company calls a “production-ready video blueprint.”

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The distinction is architectural. Standard diffusion models collapse everything into a single tensor during generation; the spatial and temporal relationships between elements are baked into the pixels themselves.

Strata, according to Idomoo, solves a different computational problem: it designs the full composition, defining placement, contrast, movement, timing, and pacing across all layers simultaneously, while also enforcing brand guidelines. The resulting output is editable at the layer level, in the same way a professional would work in Adobe After Effects.

Strata is part of Lucas, Idomoo’s AI video agent, which sits on top of the company’s existing Next Generation Video Platform. One of its more technically specific capabilities is brand awareness: Lucas analyses a company’s approved content to extract what Idomoo calls Brand DNA, covering design, narrative, and assets.

Strata then applies that specification to every video generated through the platform, enforcing typography, motion cues, colour values, and tone of voice across output at scale. The intent is to eliminate the template workaround that most “AI wrapper” products currently rely on, where generated footage is constrained to fit preset layouts.

Idomoo’s argument is that forcing content into templates produces a recognisable visual compromise; Strata designs custom blueprints for each video instead.

Personalisation is the other axis. Because Strata’s output is layered rather than flat, individual data fields, names, account details, transaction histories, product images, can be injected into specific layers of the video composition in real time.

This is the core of Idomoo’s existing business model: the company’s platform already serves JPMorganChase, Verizon, and American Airlines, among others, generating personalised videos at scale for customer communications, onboarding, and marketing.

Strata, in theory, makes that personalisation significantly more sophisticated, because it operates at the composition level rather than as an overlay on top of a pre-rendered clip.

The company is being careful about the launch’s scope. An early access version is currently being tested by several of its largest customers. It is available now through Lucas AI Video Agent, but Idomoo has not disclosed which customers are in the early access cohort, what benchmarks the model has been tested against, or how it compares to off-the-shelf diffusion models on quality metrics.

The “first foundation model purpose-built for layered video” claim is Idomoo’s own framing and has not been independently assessed. Strata technology is patent pending.

It is worth noting that Idomoo’s own platform documentation, until now, stated explicitly that it used off-the-shelf foundation AI models rather than proprietary ones. Strata represents a significant shift in that positioning: from a company that applies AI to video to one that is building foundational AI for video.

Whether the underlying architecture delivers on that framing will become clearer as enterprise customers move from early access to production deployments.

Founded in 2007 by Yaron Kalish, Danny Kalish, and Assaf Fogel, the Ra’anana-based company has raised $27 million in total funding, including a $9 million Series A in 2013 and an $18 million Series B in 2019. It has been building its personalised video platform for enterprise clients for nearly two decades, which gives it an unusual amount of structured video production data to train on. 



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Recent Reviews


Google Maps has a long list of hidden (and sometimes, just underrated) features that help you navigate seamlessly. But I was not a big fan of using Google Maps for walking: that is, until I started using the right set of features that helped me navigate better.

Add layers to your map

See more information on the screen

Layers are an incredibly useful yet underrated feature that can be utilized for all modes of transport. These help add more details to your map beyond the default view, so you can plan your journey better.

To use layers, open your Google Maps app (Android, iPhone). Tap the layer icon on the upper right side (under your profile picture and nearby attractions options). You can switch your map type from default to satellite or terrain, and overlay your map with details, such as traffic, transit, biking, street view (perfect for walking), and 3D (Android)/raised buildings (iPhone) (for buildings). To turn off map details, go back to Layers and tap again on the details you want to disable.

In particular, adding a street view and 3D/raised buildings layer can help you gauge the terrain and get more information about the landscape, so you can avoid tricky paths and discover shortcuts.

Set up Live View

Just hold up your phone

A feature that can help you set out on walks with good navigation is Google Maps’ Live View. This lets you use augmented reality (AR) technology to see real-time navigation: beyond the directions you see on your map, you are able to see directions in your live view through your camera, overlaying instructions with your real view. This feature is very useful for travel and new areas, since it gives you navigational insights for walking that go beyond a 2D map.

To use Live View, search for a location on Google Maps, then tap “Directions.” Once the route appears, tap “Walk,” then tap “Live View” in the navigation options. You will be prompted to point your camera at things like buildings, stores, and signs around you, so Google Maps can analyze your surroundings and give you accurate directions.

Download maps offline

Google Maps without an internet connection

Whether you’re on a hiking trip in a low-connectivity area or want offline maps for your favorite walking destinations, having specific map routes downloaded can be a great help. Google Maps lets you download maps to your device while you’re connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and use them when your device is offline.

For Android, open Google Maps and search for a specific place or location. In the placesheet, swipe right, then tap More > Download offline map > Download. For iPhone, search for a location on Google Maps, then, at the bottom of your screen, tap the name or address of the place. Tap More > Download offline map > Download.

After you download an area, use Google Maps as you normally would. If you go offline, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.

Enable Detailed Voice Guidance

Get better instructions

Voice guidance is a basic yet powerful navigation tool that can come in handy during walks in unfamiliar locations and can be used to ensure your journey is on the right path. To ensure guidance audio is enabled, go to your Google Maps profile (upper right corner), then tap Settings > Navigation > Sound and Voice. Here, tap “Unmute” on “Guidance Audio.”

Apart from this, you can also use Google Assistant to help you along your journey, asking questions about your destination, nearby sights, detours, additional stops, etc. To use this feature on iPhone, map a walking route to a destination, then tap the mic icon in the upper-right corner. For Android, you can also say “Hey Google” after mapping your destination to activate the assistant.

Voice guidance is handy for both new and old places, like when you’re running errands and need to navigate hands-free.

Add multiple stops

Keep your trip going

If you walk regularly to run errands, Google Maps has a simple yet effective feature that can help you plan your route in a better way. With Maps’ multiple stop feature, you can add several stops between your current and final destination to minimize any wasted time and unnecessary detours.

To add multiple stops on Google Maps, search for a destination, then tap “Directions.” Select the walking option, then click the three dots on top (next to “Your Location”), and tap “Edit Stops.” You can now add a stop by searching for it and tapping “Add Stop,” and swap the stops at your convenience. Repeat this process by tapping “Add Stops” until your route is complete, then tap “Start” to begin your journey.

You can add up to ten stops in a single route on both mobile and desktop, and use the journey for multiple modes (walking, driving, and cycling) except public transport and flights. I find this Google Maps feature to be an essential tool for travel to walkable cities, especially when I’m planning a route I am unfamiliar with.


More to discover

A new feature to keep an eye out for, especially if you use Google Maps for walking and cycling, is Google’s Gemini boost, which will allow you to navigate hands-free and get real-time information about your journey. This feature has been rolling out for both Android and iOS users.



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