The best image-to-video AI models in 2024 are CogVideoX, Stable Video Diffusion, Easy Animate, Runway, Luma Dream Machine, Kling AI, and Sora. These models offer various features such as high-resolution output, smooth transitions, animation capabilities, cinematic techniques, efficient processing, and realistic video generation. Each model excels in different areas and is suitable for specific use cases, including content creation, marketing, education, social media, film production, and more. To deploy a custom image-to-video model, users can follow the steps outlined on MonsterAPI, which involves creating a new deployment, configuring settings, launching the deployment, and accessing the model with a web interface.