AI Video Editing: the Ultimate Guide

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What is AI Video editing today

The term “AI video editing” refers to using artificial intelligence, machine learning and image recognition to modify audiovisual content, automating tedious video editing steps without sacrificing creative control. 

In practice, this can mean:

• Text-to-speech. Users can type the words and see the characters speak them out loud.
• Automatic trimming and smart cutting. AI detects dead air, bad takes, pauses, or shaky fragments and trims them automatically, turning long raw footage into a tight draft cut.
• AI caption generation. Automatic speech-to-text with punctuation, speaker labeling, and style options for accessibility. This feature can support automated translation for global distribution and inclusivity. 
• Color correction. Automatic adjustment of the palette for the entire video based on the selected frame. Not to be confused with LUTs (color filters).
• Automatic scene detection. The editor identifies shot boundaries and groups related moments, so you can jump straight to the sections that matter.
• Changing aspect ratios. E.g. turning a video in 4:3 into 16:9.
• Anti-jitter. Making shaky video smooth.
• Background replacement. Segments people or objects from the scene to swap in images, videos, or virtual sets, aka a built‑in green screen.
• Face filters, virtual makeup, and AR effects. Cosmetic touch‑ups, stylization, or try‑on experiences applied in real time.
• Voice effects. Change timbre, remove filler words, or clean background noise automatically.

Today, AI video editing can take a set of raw clips or even still frames and, with the user’s creative guidance and detailed prompts, turn them into a high-quality, potentially viral video. It can decrease the time it takes to edit a video and make the result more attractive, especially at the first steps.

Key Takeaways

• AI automates routine editing without losing creative control;
• AI features include smart cutting, captions, color correction, and scene detection;
• Advanced tools handle background replacement, face filters, AR effects, and voice cleanup;
• AI enables quick production of polished or viral videos from raw clips or stills.

Banuba video effects examples

Where AI video editing is used today 

AI video editing has the most traction with two industries: AR Communications and AR Commerce. In the former it supports messaging: protects users’ privacy, decreases the time it takes to prepare a message and adds cool visual effects. In the latter, it helps make product-related videos more efficiently and adds more options for reviews.  In both cases, they increase accessibility and inclusivity via automated captioning and translations. 

Typical use cases of AI video editing include:

• Social networks. TikTok has surpassed Google as the most popular domain name, and this includes not just the search engine, but docs, email, and other services. Instagram, Reddit, even LinkedIn are trying to catch up. So if you wish to gain a piece of the market you have to have video editing functionality. User-generated content continues to dominate digital engagement, and AI video editing enables creators to produce professional-quality clips faster, with tools like smart cutting, filters, captions, and effects.
• Mobile video editors. Purpose-built applications to capture and modify footage. They are universal tools that can be applied to any domain.
• eCommerce. In the online shopping business, using videos has become the new norm. Explainers, user training videos, reviews - there are many potential uses for eCommerce video editors. Besides, retailers adding virtual makeup (and virtual try-on in general) allow customers to try various products online or in social campaigns.
• eLearning. Educators have been especially interested in audiovisual content in recent years. This is why modern authoring tools tend to include a video editing tool.
• Dating. Video messaging has gained popularity since the beginning of the pandemic. As people want to show their best to potential partners, giving them some video editing options is beneficial to the user experience. 
• Influencer Marketing. User-generated content outperforms branded content, and 40% of shoppers find it crucial for making buying decisions. AI video editing tools help influencers deliver authentic, high-quality audiovisual content by automating captions, smart cutting, background replacement, and AR effects.

Key Takeaways

• AI speeds up content creation for social networks;
• Automated video editing software powers eCommerce demos, reviews, and virtual try-ons;
• Mobile editors bring pro AI tools to anyone;
• AI-enabled authoring tools enhance eLearning with video-rich content;
• Video editors with artificial intelligence polish dating app video messaging;
• AI video editing tools help influencers produce authentic, high-quality content.

AI Video Editing in Action: Industry Examples

Let’s review AI video editing use cases in the real world. 

• AFNB GmbH, a leading provider of neuroscientific education, leveraged Colossyan’s technology to automate its video production. The integration of AI-enhanced features allowed them to speed up the content production time from 30 days via traditional editing to 1-2 days and cut expenses by 80%, creating multilingual training with auto-translation instead of recording different language versions separately; 
• Netflix has adopted Runway AI to accelerate visual effects workflows, including scenes in its series The Eternaut. The AI-powered tool helps streamline complex post-production tasks;
• Chingari integrated Banuba’s AI video editing features to let users import their TikTok videos and edit them with filters, background replacement, and AR effects and filters. This strategic move helped Chingari attract millions of new users during TikTok’s ban in India;
• Uhive, a social network from the UK, integrated Banuba’s Video Editor SDK to give Gen Z creators advanced tools like smart cutting, merging, effects, and music integration. This helped the platform launch faster and deliver a more immersive content creation experience;
• A social commerce platform for food enthusiasts, Weat leverages AI video editing to let users create and share authentic cooking-related videos with AR effects, filters, and background replacement. This boosted user engagement and helped drive conversions in the highly competitive social commerce market; 

Weat app

• Likee, as a short-video creation platform, incorporates advanced AI and AR-based features, including face filters, beauty effects, background replacement, and 4D Magic. They empower everyday creators to make standout, professional-looking short videos with less efforts;
• A new UK-based e-commerce Beauty Bouqe used AI video editing features to kickstart without an editorial team to promote on social media. As a result, it took them 1 minute to create one video: they uploaded audiovisual content, photos, and the editor created ready-to-use, vibing reels. This approach helped to skyrocket the brand launch and boost engagement. 

“With Banuba Video Editor SDK we can cut our development effort in half so we can focus more on core business functionality.” Ash Zarif, CTO, Weat.

Key Takeaways

• AFNB cut production from 30 to 2 days, saving 80% costs;
• Netflix uses Runway AI to streamline VFX in The Eternaut;
• Chingari attracted millions of users with Banuba’s AI editing tools;
• Uhive launched faster by integrating Banuba’s Video Editor SDK;
• Weat boosted engagement with AI-powered cooking video creation;
• Likee empowers creators with AI filters, effects, and background replacement;
• Beauty Bouqe produced social-ready reels in 1 minute without an editorial team. 

Popular AI Video Editing Tools 

User-centric AI video editing platforms are thriving. In 2025, 40% of video creators and editors utilize AI features for automating mundane tasks such as color correction, smart cutting, and audiovisual content enhancement. Let’s review some of the most popular AI video editing tools on the market.  

Adobe Premiere Pro 

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editor used in film, TV, and digital marketing. Its basic functionality is packed with AI features like Generative Extend, and Adobe Firefly, giving creators more time to focus on storytelling.

Key AI Features: 

• Generative Extend adds frames, and sounds based on the surrounding media, helping to fill out video and smoothen transitions;
• Transcripts generation in 18 languages accelerates editing for multilingual projects; 
• Captions auto-translate into 27 languages, improving accessibility and inclusivity;
• Media iIntelligence for finding desired content reduces time on finding specific objects manually; 
• Text-based editing lowers the learning curve and simplifies the editing; 
• Scene edit detection automates cuts; 
• Auto color and match eliminates manual work and ensures consistency across frames; 
• Auto reframe saves time on video optimization; 
• Audio enhancement, remix, and ducking improve sound quality without audio experts. 

The monthly subscription starts at $22.99 if billed annually. Users can also purchase the Creative Cloud Pro plan with 20+ other creative apps at $69.99/month. There are discounts for students and educators.

Runway ML 

Runway ML is a generative AI platform focused on creative professionals and filmmakers. We’ve already stated that Netflix adopted it for VFX. This tool offers powerful text-to-video and background editing tools that drastically cut production time. E.g. for Josh Laurence at Assembly, utilizing Runway ML while working on his Pat McGrath Labs project saved him weeks of masking and editing, which would traditionally take 75% of overall time. 

Key AI Features: 

• Text-to-video and image-to-video generation and conversion cut production from weeks to hours;
• Scene detection and motion tracking automate complex edits and save VFX team's time; 
• Color grading, slow-motion, background replacement, and other effects decrease manual post-production cost; 
• 3D models and texture generation lowers the associated labor cost; 
• Motion Brush to animate objects and parts on images and videos reduces animators’ workload and speeds up delivery; 
• Lip sync, audio generation and cleaning, and silence remover saves hours of manual syncing and audio editing; 
• Captions and transcript generation improves accessibility. 

There is a free plan with limited credits. The standard subscription starts at $15/month.

Descript

Descript reimagines video (and podcast) editing by turning the process into something as simple as editing a text document, assisted by an AI co-editor, Underlord. It’s widely used by content creators, educators, and marketers who prioritize speed, clarity, and accessibility.

Users praise Descript for the time it helps save. For example, it allowed Cloudinary to have 70% faster video production compared to traditional video editing: 4 hours compared to 13 hours.  

Key AI Features: 

• Underlord AI Editor performs edits based on prompts (e.g., remove filler words, improve flow, add transitions or animations) and reduces editing time; 
• AI avatars creation cuts expenses on actors and cameras; 
• Correcting eye contact and adding green screen simplifies the video creation process; 
• Studio sound for enhancing audio quality and removing background noise; 
• Video generation accelerates production and makes transitions more natural; 
• Transcription, captions, and translation creation increase accessibility and inclusivity. 

The monthly plan starts at $16 if billed annually. You can get started for free with drastically limited credits just to get acquainted with the tool. 

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora provides users with a growing suite of AI tools that make professional editing accessible to casual creators. Its intuitive interface lets people quickly access all the important features, including those that automate production. 

Key AI Features:

• Filmora AI Copilot helps guide users through complex editing processes; 
• Text-based video editing with text-to-video and AI copywriting for titles and captions generation; 
• AI Thumbnail Creator for boosting engagement; 
• Smart masking and cutout with smart cutting and background replacement eliminate manual frame-by-frame edits and cut editing time; 
• AI-powered effects make videos more engaging;
• 10M+ creative assets means users don't have to make them from scratch; 
• AI audio tools with music generator, noise removal, and speech-to-text improve sound quality. 

There is a free plan with limited credits. The basic subscription starts at $9.99/month. 

Synthesia AI

Synthesia AI is a leading generative video platform helping businesses to create professional videos directly from text, no cameras or actors needed. This makes it ideal for corporate trainers, marketers, and global teams aiming to scale video content efficiently. For DuPont, Synthesia took over 80% of video creation and saved +$10K per video compared to traditional methods. 

Key AI Features:

• AI avatar creation + a selection of 125+ avatars to choose from to scale production without hiring additional actors; 
• Text-to-video generation with Veo 3 to reduce production time; 
• 300+ editable video templates with collaboration tools to co-create faster; 
• Voiceover generation in 140+ languages, with one-click translations and closed captions for accessibility and inclusivity;
• AI screen recorder with voiceover for how-to videos;
• AI voice cloning for brand consistency and personalization;
• Free media library, triggers, and animations save budget on stock assets. 

The free plan includes only 3 minutes of video per month. The starter plan with 10 minutes per month starts at $18. 

Submagic

Submagic is for creators, coaches, and marketers who want to turn the talking-head or long-form content into viral-ready shorts and reels without spending hours on editing. It focuses on captions, hooks, and engaging edits ideal for social media formats.

Key AI Features:

• Automatic captions and translations in 48+ languages, with on-screen animations for accessibility and creative inclusivity;
• Smart cutting and filler removal saves hours of manual work; 
• Magic clips and B-Roll, which extract attention-grabbing moments, add context-driven B-roll, GIFs, transitions, and dynamic zoom effects to improve engagement and retention;
• AI Hook Generator to create engaging opening lines or titles;
• Clean audio and eye-tracking features to deliver professional sounds without extra cost.

The trial period allows users to create 3 free videos. The starter plan is $19 per month. 

LightCut

LightCut is an AI-powered video editor app for iOS and Android,  recommended by DJI, a major quadcopter manufacturer. It's designed for creators, drone enthusiasts, and vloggers to produce polished videos quickly. Its one-tap editing and intuitive interface make it effortless to craft cinematic clips on the go.

Key AI Features:

• One‑tap editing automatically analyzes footage and applies edits, templates, effects, transitions, and music to create polished clips even if the user knows nothing about video editing;
• AI-driven template matching detects key moments and crafts a clip, saving time and effort; 
• Direct Integration with DJI cameras for real-time previews and seamless editing without manual export;
• Aerial audiomatch and effects with thematic soundtracks, stickers, filters, and tilt-shift effects improve engagement and shareability.

This application is free. 

How AI video editing changed in recent years

Audiovisual content is the undisputed king of the Internet. Since 2017, its consumption has grown by 15 times, and it is expected to account for 82% of all the traffic worldwide. This can largely be attributed to the proliferation of smartphones, higher connection speeds, and the rise of short video social networks. 

TikTok is currently at the top of the heap - overtaking the entire Google ecosystem is no small feat. The other social media are trying to catch up:

• Instagram extended its video offering (“Reels”) to 60 seconds, integrated it with Facebook’s feed, and allowed people to reply to comments with it.
• Reddit bought Dubsmash and then shut it down, after integrating video editing features with the main platform and expanding them.
• LinkedIn tested the “Stories” feature but then deprecated it. However, the company intends to release a new short video offering later down the line.
• Pinterest bought Vochi, a video editing app, to help content creators.

Microsoft, the owner of LinkedIn, has also acquired Clipchamp, another startup that focuses on the topic. And all short video apps experienced unprecedented growth: up to 90% increase in monthly active users.

Video content has also proven to be a major game-changer in eCommerce. Whether in a form of live shopping or as reviews, explainers, and user training clips. 

So the industry is booming, and companies joining it have a good chance to turn a profit or get acquired by a large corporation.

Key Takeaways

• Video consumption grew 15x since 2017, now accounts for 82% of global traffic;
• Rise of short-video platforms (TikTok, Reels, Likee, etc.) drove massive adoption;
• Major players acquired or built video editing tools (Pinterest & Vochi, Microsoft & Clipchamp);
• Short-video apps saw up to 90% user growth;
• eCommerce embraced video (live shopping, reviews, explainers) as a key driver of sales.

Banuba background replacement and AR face mask examples

How brands benefit

This is how companies can benefit from AI video editing:

• Draw users from the competitors. For example, Chingari, an Indian social media company, built a special tool that helped people import their TikTok videos to Chingari’s platform.
• Incentivize content creation. TikTok lets users earn money by making content. Chingari took it a step further by giving people in-app currency for watching videos. 
• Gain competitive advantage. The more features you offer, the more opportunities for self-expression your users gain. Platforms like Likee actively advertise their advanced editing as a way to gain an edge over other short video apps.
• Improve efficiency through automation. Automated scene detection, smart cutting, caption generation, batch processing, filters, and effects overlays drastically reduce editing time. This enables brands to push out more polished content faster or allow user-generated content creation, maximizing ROI while keeping production costs low.
• Accessibility as a brand strength. AI-driven captioning, translations, and voice-to-text tools make videos international-friendly and accessible for people with hearing impairments. AI video editing grants brands a broader audience reach and amplifies their sustainability and inclusivity credentials. 

How app developers benefit

This is what app developers get from integrating AI video editors:

• Improved metrics. The use of AI video editing is linked to higher engagement, longer sessions, and better LTV.
• Promote user-generated content. By making it easy to create videos, you motivate users to create them. This, in turn, attracts new users.

Key Takeaways

• Attract users from competitors with unique AI editing tools;
• Boost content creation with incentives and creative freedom;
• Gain competitive edge through advanced editing features;
• Improve efficiency via automation, cutting costs and time;
• Expand reach, accessibility, and inclusivity with AI captions, translations, and accessibility tools;
• AI editing increases engagement, session time, and LTV;
• Easy video creation fuels user-generated content, attracting more users.

Video editing SDKs in a nutshell

A video editing SDK is a ready-made module that performs a set of functions, self-evident from the name. It usually can be integrated with an app within a couple of days and is compatible with both finished products and ones still in development. 

They are commonly used because developing similar functionality from scratch is prohibitively expensive, takes too long, or both. 

These are the main reasons companies go for SDKs:

• Decreased time-to-market. This is the primary selling point of such products. Instead of spending months on building everything from the ground up, the developers can quickly integrate a camera SDK and launch the app sooner.
• Lower initial investment. Video editing SDKs are typically subscription-based or have a similar monetization model. A monthly or even yearly installment is much lower than the salary and overhead expenses needed to sustain a large development team. 
• More features. The products that have been on the market for some time tend to accumulate useful additional features. New arrivals will need more time to catch up to them. 

Key Takeaways

• Camera SDKs integrate video editing features into apps within days;
• Cut development costs vs. building from scratch;
• Speed up time-to-market significantly;
• Provide richer features thanks to continuous updates.

Feature set

Here we will list the most common functionalities that can be found in a video editing SDK.

Core

• Trimming. Cutting the video down to a more manageable size, removing bad takes, etc. 
• Merging. Combining several clips into one. 
• Recording. Picking up footage from the camera.
• Timeline. A frame-by-frame representation of a video.
• Audio editing. A waveform that allows cutting and repositioning sounds.
• Overlays. Basic text, pictures, and GIFs that can be placed in the foreground. 
• Hands-free mode. A timer that allows a user to record without having to keep the phone in their hands.

Banuba Video Editor. Trimming mode

Extras

• AI clipping. This feature lets users combine 3 or more videos into one, as well as matching the resulting content to the beat of the music track. It makes creating cool videos easy for anyone;
• AI captions. A speech recognition tool that automatically creates subtitles for the people talking in the video. It enhances engagement as many people watch content in silent mode and saves a lot of time on making captions manually;
• Beautification. Correcting facial imperfections and making people look their best in a couple of clicks.
• Music provider integration. Gives your users more creative options and protects them from copyright strikes. 
• Slideshows. Combining pictures taken in the moment or from the gallery into a video. 
• Picture-in-picture. Running 2 or more videos on the same screen. Also known as “duets” in TikTok. 
• Custom backgrounds. Segmenting out a person and replacing everything else with a picture, video, 3D environment, etc. Could be useful as a built-in green screen. 
• Voice effects. Making the speaker sound like Darth Vader, robot, Disney princess, etc.
• AR cloud. Online storage for various effects (face masks, AR makeup, etc.). Decreases the app size by allowing users to download the needed effects on-demand.

Banuba Video Editor. Picture-in-picture mode

What matters in video editing SDKs

Given that the market for them is big and growing, it is important to have a set of criteria to compare different products. While it would take an obscene amount of space to describe each in detail, we can give you some reliable pointers. 

This is what you should pay attention to when choosing a video editing SDK:

• Feature set. Some products contain only the basic functionality, others have various add-ons and improvements: background replacement, face filters, virtual makeup, beautification, AI captioning, translation, and more. In addition, the exact implementation and quality of the features can differ from one camera SDK to another. 
• Compatibility. This includes support for various platforms (iOS, Android, Web, PC, Mac), devices (low, mid, and top-tier), and development technologies. For example, Banuba Video Editor SDK is compatible with Flutter and React Native. 
• Performance. The industry standard is running 30 frames per second. However, it can differ depending on the hardware, enables features, and other simultaneously running applications. In addition, heating and battery power consumption also factor in here, especially in the cases of prolonged use. 
• Price and pricing. This is the criterion that is meaningless without the rest. For example, a Rolls Royce is much more expensive than KIA but also gives a lot more. The pricing model can also differ (per user per year, per 1000 minutes of exported video, etc.).
• Other commercial aspects. They include documentation and its quality, support response speed, free trial availability and conditions, etc. 

For more details, as well as an example of a step-by-step comparison, check out our dedicated article: Best Mobile Video Editor SDKs for Short Video Apps: Detailed Comparison. Or just contact us and our experts will give you some personal advice.

Key Takeaways

• Compare basics vs. advanced add-ons like AR filters, background replacement, beautification;
• Ensure compatibility with your chosen platforms/technologies (iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, React Native);
• Target smooth 30 FPS with low battery/heat impact;
• Pricing models vary by usage or licenses; value depends on features;
• The lack of good docs, fast support, and trial options can be deal-breakers.

Trends and prospects for AI video editing

This niche affects many other industries. As a result, the current trends largely represent the application of AI video editing in other domains.

One of the most prominent examples is blending with eCommerce and social networking. People can now watch their favorite influencers and buy various products from them without ever leaving the tab with the video. A social network (e.g. TikTok or Chingari) provides the platform and payment system, built-in image recognition highlights the products, and the influencers themselves add a bit of star power. This approach is already huge in China but has yet to gain similar popularity in the West.

Another trend is the wide application of augmented reality. This is a solid match, as shown by TikTok and its competitors. But there are applications besides AR masks for people and animals. For example, it can be used in videos for wellness apps and plastic surgery to show the planned results. However, augmented reality features might require installing a complementary SDK. For example, Banuba Video Editor SDK needs Banuba Face AR SDK for background replacement and face filters. 

Automatic moderation is also a valuable use case for AI video editing. Looking through many hours of questionable content requires spending money on dedicated staff and takes a serious psychological toll on the workers. Software, on the other hand, can detect visual and audial cues about restricted topics (self-harm, nudity, terrorism, drugs, etc.) and remove them in real-time. Some of the best mobile video editors and streaming apps include this feature.

AI video editing is also shaping the future of digital accessibility. Automatic captioning, real-time translations, and voice-to-text tools make content usable across languages and for people with hearing impairments. Inclusivity features are no longer a luxury maximum but a bare minimum as they become both a regulatory requirement (e.g., WCAG, ADA, EU directives) and a brand differentiator. 

Key Takeaways

• Social commerce: Seamless mix of influencer videos, and in-app shopping;
• Augmented reality: it is used in wellness, beauty, and surgery planning, not just funny clips on social media;
• SDK synergy: AR features often require pairing with complementary SDKs;
• Automatic moderation: AI detects and filters harmful content in real time.

Banuba AR Face filters examples

Conclusion

With this guide, you will be able to confidently navigate the world of AI video editing and make informed decisions. The niche is only expected to grow, so feel free to get on the bandwagon now. And while you are already here, try Banuba Video Editor SDK: it’s free for 14 days!

Reference List

Adobe. (n.d.). AI video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/ai-video-editing.html

Billo. (n.d.). 43 powerful UGC statistics you need to know in 2025. Billo Blog. https://billo.app/blog/ugc-statistics/

Colossyan. (n.d.). AFNB GmbH case study. https://www.colossyan.com/case-studies/afnb-case-study

Descript. (n.d.). Descript: AI-powered video editing. https://www.descript.com/

DJI. (n.d.). LightCut. https://www.dji.com/lightcut

Outlook Business. (2023, December 4). Netflix and Disney explore Runway AI’s generative video tools amid Hollywood IP concerns. https://www.outlookbusiness.com/corporate/netflix-and-disney-explore-runway-ais-generative-video-tools-amid-hollywood-ip-concerns

QRCode Tiger. (2024, June 14). Top 40 user-generated content statistics you need to know in 2024. https://www.qrcode-tiger.com/user-generated-content-statistics

Synthesia. (n.d.). AI video editor. https://www.synthesia.io/tools/ai-video-editor

Triple A Review. (2024, September 22). Video editing statistics. https://tripleareview.com/video-editing-statistics/

Wondershare. (n.d.). Filmora AI features. https://filmora.wondershare.com/ai-features.html

Whatmore. (2024, November 20). Beauty Bouqe: Boosting engagement by creating AI videos with Whatmore Studio. https://www.whatmore.ai/blog/beauty-bouqe-boosting-engagement-creating-ai-videos-whatmore-studio