AI Conference
From viral clips to Snoop Dogg: The Dor Brothers bring Israeli AI to the global stage
Startup’s lifelike videos of Trump and Putin rack up 100 million views, as founders set sights on Hollywood.
President Trump sipping champagne in a limousine while smoking a cigar, and his rival Vladimir Putin holding a giant rifle. Did this scene ever happen in real life? Absolutely not. Trump and Putin never posed for such a photo, but they appeared together in a clip generated entirely by artificial intelligence, created by Israeli startup The Dor Brothers.
Could Israeli technology catapult local creators into Hollywood? Omer Shiby, Head of Operations and Creative, believes so. Speaking at Calcalist’s AI conference, held in collaboration with Vultr, he said: “We are Israelis who specialize in music videos, commercials, short films, and in the future, full-length films.”
Shiby explained that the team’s journey began unexpectedly: “Three years ago, we were among the first 300 users on Midjourney. Back then it was basic, but we realized it would evolve. We didn’t come from this field at all, but we loved cinema and music. Suddenly, anyone could take an idea sitting in a drawer at home and, with just a computer, become a director.”
The Dor Brothers’ breakthrough came through viral content. “The first thing we did was create viral videos,” Shiby said. “Our idea was to criticize something happening in the world, to do it quickly and sharply in a three-minute video. The last video we released, with Donald Trump and Putin, was published the day after the election and reached more than 100 million views on social media.”
As he spoke, larger-than-life clips played behind him: celebrities in limousines, champagne glasses in hand, all set to pulsing music. The videos look completely real. “Viral videos are our fuel,” Shiby added. “We didn’t invest in marketing. As the industry grew so quickly, we found ourselves making videos for bands, then for Snoop Dogg. We did shows for brands like Hugo Boss, and also an advertisement for eToro.”
But how did a small Israeli team manage to reach global celebrities and brands? Shiby explained: “What makes us stand out isn’t a secret tool. Our success comes from living and breathing this field every day. We are workaholics, but the real edge is in constantly pushing forward. Every week we analyze strategy, decide which tool is better, and test what creates more impact. There’s no room for rest or complacency.”
According to him, working closely with leading companies in the AI space has been crucial: “That’s how we ensure we stay relevant. It’s a war of survival to remain at the top of the field.”
Shiby concluded with a teaser: “We have exciting news on the way, we’ll hold the largest AI competition to date, with an incredible panel of judges. This is a fascinating journey, and we are happy to be part of it.”
