Gone are the days of sifting through hours of footage for that perfect shot, of trying to learn complex software to realize a creative vision. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) for video editing tools in 2024, you can simplify these tasks and transform your videos into works of art in less time. 

This journey into the heart of AI for video editing isn’t about replacing the human touch; it’s about enhancing it and allowing you to elevate your storytelling.

In this article, we discuss the basics of video editing tools using AI, including the tools available, how to choose the best one for your needs, and tips and tricks to make the most out of AI in video editing.

Table of Contents

What Is AI Video Editing?

AI for video editing refers to the use of AI tech to automate and enhance various aspects of the video editing process. The automation process may include tasks such as:

  • Editing
  • Color correction
  • Audio adjustment
  • Content creation

AI can significantly reduce the time required for video editing by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks. These can include adding transitions, trimming, and syncing video and audio.

As a result, AI in video editing allows amateur and seasoned editors alike to focus on more creative aspects of video production.

Key Features of AI Video Editing Tools

Here are some of the key features of AI video editing tools:

  • Automated Video Editing. AI video editing tools can automatically cut and assemble video clips based on predefined criteria such as pacing, storytelling, or thematic elements. This feature significantly reduces editing time, allowing creators to focus on creative aspects of video production.
  • Enhancing Video Quality. These tools employ AI algorithms to improve video resolution and adjust color grading. AI can also apply effects, ensuring that the final product has a professional look and feel.
  • Scene Detection and Segmentation. AI can analyze video content to detect and segment different scenes, making it easier for editors to navigate and organize their footage. This feature is particularly useful for large projects where managing and editing numerous clips can be taxing.
  • AI-Driven Content Analysis and Storyboarding. By analyzing video content, AI video editing tools can suggest storyboards and layouts that best tell the story. This feature helps creators visualize the narrative flow of their content, enabling more effective storytelling.
  • Voice and Speech Recognition. For transcription and subtitling, voice and speech recognition capabilities allow for the automatic conversion of spoken words into text. This not only accelerates the subtitling process but also makes videos more accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Customizable Templates and Styles. AI video editing tools offer a range of customizable templates and styles, enabling creators to maintain consistent branding across their videos. These templates can be adapted to fit various themes and purposes, from social media posts to professional presentations.
  • Creative AI Effects, Transitions, and Filters. AI-powered effects, transitions, and filters open up new avenues for creative expression. Creators can apply unique visual enhancements that would be difficult or time-consuming to achieve manually, adding a distinctive flair to their videos.

Top AI Video Editing Tools in 2024

1. Runway

Runway allows users not only to edit videos but also generate videos and audio. Its video editing features include color grading, removing backgrounds, blurring faces, changing the depth of field, and more.

For video generation, Runway offers the following options:

  • Video to video
  • Text-or image-to-video
  • Frame interpretation (turning a series of images into a video)

I tried the text-to-video feature and typed this prompt: “Video of a woman swimming underwater with marine life.” It generated this short clip of a woman underwater. It didn’t show any marine life, as I indicated in the prompt, but it looks good nonetheless (albeit with a weird lower body, which could be attributed to water distortion).

Next, I tried a video editing feature, particularly the depth of field adjustment. I selected the video I generated earlier, and Runway made the background blurry.

Pricing: The platform offers a Free Forever plan with 125 credits you can use to generate videos and images. Paid plans range from $12 to $76 per month.

2. Wondershare Filmora

This app is available for Windows, Android, Mac/iOS and been around for quite some time now, and it continues to evolve.

Its AI capabilities include a smart cutout for object removal, audio denoise to reduce background noise, audio stretch to extend music tracks, and motion tracking, making it one of the best AI for video editing tools available today.

As I’m testing out various AI for video editing tools, this app was one of the few ones that required me to install the app on my device. Be that as it may, its range of editing tools makes the extra effort of installing worth it.

One of the things I like about this platform is its templates. For instance, this travel template already comes with videos, effects, and audio. All you need to do is replace media within the template to make it yours. 

Aside from your materials, stock videos, and images, you can also use the platform’s AI image feature. For comparison, I used the same prompt as I encoded in Runway. Here’s the image it generated:

Pricing: The platform has a free trial version that allows users to export up to 10 projects with a watermark. To remove the watermark, you must avail of paid plans, which range from $19.99 to $89.99, depending on how frequently you’re billed. I noticed, however, that their pricing is higher for Windows users compared to Mac users.

3. VEED.io

Veed.io is another AI-powered video editing tool that can elevate video storytelling. Like many other providers, VEED.io allows users to do basic editing, such as color correcting and effects. Its AI-powered features include background removal, audio cleaning, silence removal, AI avatars, and more.

When I tried to create a project from scratch, the app offered me various options to start from, such as stock videos, AI avatars, a file upload, or even a video recording.

I tried to make an AI avatar read a paragraph from my blog. The video was amazing and was as smooth as AI avatars can look. But perhaps the feature that amazed me the most about this platform is its capacity to add subtitles and translate the script in multiple languages right within the app.  Here’s what happened when I tried to translate the English video into French:

Pricing: The platform offers a free plan, which comes with all editing features, videos up to 10 minutes in length, and an auto-subtitle allowance of up to 30 minutes. Paid plans range from $12 to $59 per user per month and come with more video minutes, translation options, and video analytics.

4. Descript

This platform not only uses AI for video editing but also revolutionizes video automation that enhances audio and video content in a few clicks. Many users love this Descript for its superb auto-transcription capabilities.

If you cringe at how often you catch yourself using filler words when recording a video, then you’ll be happy to know that this platform can remove all those. Its AI-driven editing tools can automatically detect and remove words like “you know,” “um,” and “uh,” honing the speech in for clarity and professionalism.

But I personally think that one of the most outstanding AI capabilities of Descript is its AI Speaker feature. This cutting-edge functionality allows users to create a digital model of their voice or utilize one of the platform’s ultra-realistic stock voices for various purposes, including editing existing recordings or generating new speech from text.

To craft a custom AI Speaker, you must record 30 seconds of your voice. The platform will ask you to read a statement. This step will train the speaker and authorize its use.

This process is quick and simple, allowing for the editing and generation of audio with your AI voice in less than a minute. 

Pricing: Descript is a good option if you’re looking for a free AAI video editor without a watermark. The platform has a free plan that comes with one watermark-free export, one transcription hour, and one remote recording hour per month. ​​Their paid tiers, ranging from $12 to $24 per user per month, come with more hours and features, such as unlimited AI features for the more expensive package.

5. Canva

If you’re already using Canva for your simple graphic designs, you might also want to try their AI video editor for reels and short movies. The platform has a text-to-video AI tool (which also has a text-to-image feature) called Magic Design™.

First off, I tried to use the platform’s text-to-video feature called Magic Media. To compare to the tools mentioned earlier, I used the same prompt I used for Runway and Wondershare Filmora. Here’s what I got:

It’s crucial to note that Runway powers the text-to-video AI tool in Canva, so don’t be surprised if it generates videos with the same look and feel. The AI-generated video was a bit glitchy when I tried it, which could be understandable since it’s just an integration, and they could still be in the process of improving it.

I then tried Magic Design for Video, which required me to choose uploaded photos and encode a prompt about the video I wanted to generate. I chose a bunch of underwater photos I generated from Canva’s text-to-image feature.

A few seconds later, it generated a sequence complete with background music and text for an AI-generated story. 

The AI-generated story was too simple; it was about an underwater fairy falling in love with a human, and the two eventually get their happy-ever-after. But I suspect it could’ve generated a more intricate story if I had given it a more detailed prompt.

Pricing: All Canva users have access to Magic Design. Free account users can also use their AI image generator, but only up to 50 queries. The platform’s paid tiers, which start at $12.99 monthly, allow users to generate up to 500 images monthly.

6. DeepBrain AI

If an AI avatar is your main reason for using an AI for video editing tools, then you might find DeepBrain AI impressive. After all, it features over 70 AI presenters, which include a range of 2D and 3D avatars.

It also offers over 80 voice variations and languages, so it’s a good option to generate videos in multiple languages. The platform boasts a 96.5% similarity to the human model, with hyper-realistic and unique avatars, complete with facial features, intonations, accents, and subtle expressions.

Using the platform is pretty straightforward. The first time I tried it, DeepBrain AI asked me a topic or question and asked me to choose a template. 

After this, it generated the template with an AI-written script and editable background, text, and images.

The interface is simple and intuitive, and I found it easy to navigate even if it was my first time using the platform.

Pricing: The platform’s packages range from $24 to $180 per month, varying in the number of scenes and video minutes.

Ethical Considerations in AI for Video Editing

AI in video editing offers unprecedented capabilities but also brings ethical considerations. Here are a few issues to address to ensure responsible use:

  • Privacy and Consent. The ability of AI to identify individuals, analyze behaviors, and even predict actions may raise privacy concerns. Ensuring that users’ privacy is respected involves securing their consent before their images or data are used. This is particularly relevant in the context of deepfake and facial recognition, where the line between reality and AI-generated content can blur.
  • Intellectual Property Rights. As AI generates new content by learning from existing works, questions arise about the ownership of these AI creations. Establishing clear guidelines on the use and credit of AI-generated content is essential to protect the rights of original creators while fostering innovation.
  • Bias and Representation. AI systems are susceptible to the biases inherent in their training data, which can lead to unfair or discriminatory outcomes in the final content. Ensuring diversity and inclusivity in training datasets is crucial to mitigate these biases. Moreover, it’s essential to critically assess AI-generated content for stereotypes or skewed representations that may perpetuate inequality or harm. That said, hiring human creatives to produce videos or visual assets like branding mockups or brand style guides is helpful to ensure that the final results still reflect human context.   

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can ChatGPT do video editing?

No. As a text-based AI model, ChatGPT can’t directly edit videos. However, it can offer instructions, guidance, and tips on editing videos. It can also assist with script writing or planning video content.

Can AI replace video editors?

No. Though AI can automate video editing tasks, such as color correction, trimming, or adding effects, it is unlikely to replace video editors completely. After all, AI can’t fully replicate a human editor’s creative judgment, storytelling ability, and nuanced understanding of human emotions. AI can be a powerful tool to assist video editors, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

Is there a free AI video editor?

Yes, some tools offer AI video editing capabilities without charge. As seen from the list above, some leading platforms allow users to use their platform for free, with certain limitations, such as limited features, a specific video length, or exporting videos with watermarks.

Is there a free AI video generator?

Yes, free AI-in-video tools generate videos from text inputs or images for free.  Aside from the ones mentioned above, other AI video generators offering free trials or limited free versions include invideo AI, Peech, and Visla.