How to Make AI Videos
You no longer need a camera to create every piece of video footage.
AI video generators can take something as simple as:
A cup of coffee sitting beside a rain-covered window, early morning light, slow camera push-in.
and turn it into a short video clip.
You can also start with an image and ask AI to animate it.
Or provide a script and use an AI avatar to present it.
That's why “AI video” can actually mean several very different things.
You might want to:
Generate a realistic scene from text
Animate an existing image
Create a talking AI presenter
Turn a script into a complete video
Generate B-roll
Create social-media videos
Add AI-generated clips to videos you've already filmed
The best workflow depends on what you're trying to create.
But for most AI-generated video, the process looks something like this:
Idea
↓
Plan the shot
↓
Write the prompt
↓
Generate
↓
Review
↓
Regenerate or refine
↓
Edit
↓
Publish
Current AI-video guides follow essentially this same process: decide what you're creating, provide the model with a clear brief, generate individual footage or scenes, refine them, then assemble the finished video.
Here's how to do it.
What Is an AI Video?
An AI video is video created or modified using artificial intelligence.
At the simplest level, you describe what you want:
A golden retriever running through shallow water on a beach at sunset.
AI generates the footage.
That's known as:
Text-to-video
But that's only one method.
There are several different ways to make AI videos.
1. Text-to-Video
You write a description.
AI generates the scene.
For example:
A red sports car driving along a winding mountain road, snow-covered mountains in the background, cinematic aerial tracking shot.
The AI interprets:
Subject: Red sports car
Action: Driving
Location: Mountain road
Background: Snow-covered mountains
Camera: Aerial tracking
Style: Cinematic
and generates footage based on those instructions.
Text-to-video is now a standard workflow across modern AI-video systems.
2. Image-to-Video
Instead of starting with words, you provide an image.
AI then animates it.
For example, you upload an image of:
A woman standing beside a swimming pool
and prompt:
She turns towards the camera and smiles as the camera slowly moves closer. Palm trees move gently in the background.
The original image establishes:
Character
Clothing
Environment
Composition
and:
Visual style
while the prompt describes what should happen next.
This can give you more visual control than generating everything from text.
3. AI Avatar Videos
This is a completely different type of AI video.
Instead of generating a cinematic scene, you choose or create an AI presenter.
You provide a script.
The avatar speaks it.
Tools such as HeyGen are designed heavily around this workflow.
It's particularly useful for:
Training
Explainer videos
Internal communications
Product demonstrations
Marketing
and:
Multilingual video
Current HeyGen workflows can combine scripts, avatars, voices, brand assets and AI-generated scenes into finished videos.
4. AI-Assisted Video Editing
You can also start with footage you've already recorded.
AI then helps:
Remove pauses
Generate captions
Clean audio
Remove backgrounds
Find clips
Resize video
Create B-roll
Repurpose long videos
This is closer to traditional video editing, except AI removes some of the repetitive work.
So before choosing a tool, answer one question:
What Type of Video Are You Trying to Make?
If you want:
Cinematic generated footage
Use text-to-video or image-to-video.
Presenter without filming yourself
Use an AI avatar generator.
Short clips from a podcast
Use an AI clipping/repurposing tool.
Edit existing footage faster
Use an AI video editor.
Complete marketing video from a script
Use a tool designed around script-to-video production.
This matters because asking:
What's the best AI video generator?
is a bit like asking:
What's the best vehicle?
The answer depends on where you're going.
How Does AI Video Generation Work?
You don't need to understand the underlying model to use one effectively.
Think of it as giving instructions to a virtual production team.
You describe:
Who or what is in the shot
What they're doing
Where they are
What the camera is doing
How the scene should look
The AI generates a video based on those instructions.
The basic workflow is:
1. Decide the shot
What actually needs to happen?
2. Choose the generation method
Text or image?
3. Write the prompt
Describe the scene.
4. Generate
Create the first version.
5. Review
Look for problems.
6. Refine
Adjust the prompt or starting image.
7. Edit
Combine the successful generations.
Current creator workflows increasingly treat AI generation as shot creation, rather than expecting one enormous prompt to produce an entire polished film.
How to Make Your First AI Video
Let's make something simple.
Suppose we're creating a short advert for a fictional coffee brand.
We want a shot of someone preparing coffee early in the morning.
Don't start with:
Make a coffee advert.
That's far too vague.
First decide what the actual shot looks like.
We want:
Subject: Cup of coffee
Action: Coffee being poured
Location: Modern kitchen
Time: Early morning
Lighting: Warm sunrise
Camera: Slow close-up
Now we can write the prompt.
Step 1: Write Your First AI Video Prompt
Try:
Close-up of freshly brewed coffee being slowly poured into a ceramic cup in a modern kitchen at sunrise. Warm natural morning light through the window, steam rising from the cup, shallow depth of field, slow cinematic camera push-in.
Notice what's included.
We haven't just said:
Coffee being poured.
We've described:
Shot
Action
Environment
Lighting
Camera
Visual treatment
This gives the model much more useful information.
Step 2: Choose an AI Video Generator
There are now many options.
Depending on the type of video you're creating, you'll come across tools and models such as:
and others.
You don't need accounts with all of them.
Choose one capable generator and learn how it responds to prompts.
That's much more useful than constantly switching because another model won a comparison video this week.
Our broader Best AI Video Generators guide can handle the detailed tool comparison.
For this workflow, we're concentrating on making the video.
Step 3: Generate the First Version
Enter the prompt and generate.
Don't expect perfection.
Your first result might have:
Strange movement
Incorrect objects
Unnatural hands
Camera movement you didn't want
Physics problems
Inconsistent details
That's normal.
AI video creation is usually iterative.
You generate.
Watch.
Change something.
Generate again.
Current AI-video tutorials similarly emphasise refinement rather than treating the first generation as the final result.
Step 4: Change One Thing at a Time
Suppose the coffee looks good but the camera moves too quickly.
Don't rewrite the entire prompt.
Change:
slow cinematic camera push-in
to something more explicit:
very slow, subtle camera push-in, stable movement
Generate again.
Now suppose the lighting is too dark.
Adjust:
bright warm morning sunlight entering through a large kitchen window
Generate again.
Changing one variable at a time helps you understand what actually improved the result.
How to Write Better AI Video Prompts
There isn't one magical prompt formula.
But a useful structure is:
Subject + Action + Setting + Camera + Lighting + Style
Let's look at each part.
Subject
What are we looking at?
For example:
Woman in red coat
Golden retriever
Vintage Porsche
Cup of coffee
Astronaut
Be specific where the detail matters.
Action
What happens?
For example:
Walking through snow
Running towards camera
Driving around a corner
Coffee being poured
Opening a door
Video needs movement.
Describe it.
Setting
Where does it happen?
For example:
Busy Tokyo street at night
Empty beach
Modern kitchen
Snow-covered forest
Luxury hotel lobby
Camera
This can make a huge difference.
Try terms such as:
Close-up
Wide shot
Low angle
Overhead
Tracking shot
Slow push-in
Handheld
Static camera
Don't cram six camera movements into a five-second clip.
Keep the shot understandable.
Lighting
For example:
Soft morning light
Golden hour
Neon lighting
Overcast daylight
Dramatic side lighting
Studio lighting
Lighting strongly affects how the scene feels.
Style
This might include:
Cinematic
Documentary
Commercial
Realistic
Animation
Vintage film
But don't rely entirely on vague words such as:
cinematic masterpiece, ultra professional, incredible.
Concrete visual instructions are generally more useful.
A Better AI Video Prompt Example
Instead of:
Man walking through London.
Try:
Medium tracking shot of a man in a dark overcoat walking along a wet London street at night. Reflections from shop lights on the pavement, light rain falling, pedestrians moving naturally in the background, camera tracks slowly alongside him, realistic cinematic lighting.
Now the model knows much more about the intended shot.
Don't Make the Prompt Too Complicated
More detail isn't always better.
Imagine:
A woman walks into a restaurant, removes her coat, speaks to the waiter, sits down, opens a menu, orders wine and then looks through the window as a red sports car drives past.
That's a lot of events for one short generation.
Break it into shots.
Shot 1
Woman enters restaurant.
Shot 2
Woman sits at table.
Shot 3
Close-up opening menu.
Shot 4
Woman looks towards window.
Shot 5
Sports car passes outside.
Generate each separately.
Then edit them together.
Think in Shots, Not Whole Videos
This is probably the biggest improvement a beginner can make.
Don't ask AI:
Make me a 60-second advert for a luxury hotel.
Plan:
Shot 1
Exterior establishing shot.
Shot 2
Guest enters lobby.
Shot 3
Close-up of room details.
Shot 4
Pool.
Shot 5
Restaurant.
Shot 6
Sunset balcony.
Now each generation has one clear job.
This mirrors the approach recommended by current AI-video production guides: build the finished video from controllable individual shots.
Should You Use Text-to-Video or Image-to-Video?
This is an important decision.
Use Text-to-Video When...
You want to explore.
You're starting without existing visuals.
You don't need an exact character or product.
You want the AI to create the composition.
Use Image-to-Video When...
You already know how the shot should look.
You need stronger visual consistency.
You have a product image.
You have a character reference.
You want to control the first frame.
For many projects, image-to-video can provide a more predictable starting point because you've already decided what the scene looks like.
How to Make an AI Video From an Image
Let's say you've generated or photographed an image of:
A trainer sitting on a concrete pedestal in a studio.
Upload it.
Now don't waste the motion prompt redescribing everything already visible.
Concentrate on movement.
For example:
Camera slowly orbits around the trainer from left to right while soft studio lighting moves across the surface. The trainer remains stationary. Smooth controlled commercial product shot.
The image establishes the visual.
The prompt establishes the motion.
How to Keep Characters Consistent
This remains one of the harder parts of AI video.
You generate:
Shot 1
Woman walking into hotel.
Then:
Shot 2
Woman entering bedroom.
Suddenly she has:
Different hair
Different clothes
Different face
That's because separate generations don't automatically guarantee identical characters.
Reference images and character-consistency features can help.
The exact capabilities vary by model, but the general principle is:
Reuse the same visual reference whenever possible.
For narrative videos, establish your character first.
Then generate scenes around that reference rather than asking the model to reinvent them from text every time.
How to Make Talking AI Videos
If the objective isn't cinematic footage but someone presenting information, use a different workflow.
For example:
Write script
↓
Choose AI avatar
↓
Choose voice
↓
Add branding
↓
Generate
A platform such as HeyGen is designed around this type of production.
Current HeyGen workflows can take a script or prompt and build presenter-led scenes without requiring a camera, actor or traditional studio setup.
This can make much more sense for:
Training videos
Product explainers
Internal updates
Educational videos
than trying to create everything with cinematic text-to-video.
Can AI Make a Whole YouTube Video?
Yes, but I'd be careful with the phrase:
One click.
You can increasingly automate:
Script
Voice
Visuals
B-roll
Captions
Editing
Music
But a good YouTube video still needs:
An idea worth watching
Structure
Pacing
Good visual choices
Fact checking
Human judgement
The technology can generate the components.
That doesn't automatically make the finished video interesting.
Can AI Make TikTok and Instagram Videos?
Yes.
AI video is particularly well suited to short-form content because you may only need a handful of short shots.
For example, a 20-second video might contain:
Shot 1 — 3 seconds
Shot 2 — 4 seconds
Shot 3 — 3 seconds
Shot 4 — 5 seconds
Shot 5 — 5 seconds
Generate those individually.
Then combine them vertically in your editor.
Add:
Voiceover
Captions
Music
and:
On-screen text
This is often much more controllable than asking AI to generate one complete 20-second social video.
How to Add AI Voiceovers
You can use a specialist AI voice generator when your video needs narration.
For example:
Write script
↓
Generate voice
↓
Create visuals
↓
Synchronise in editor
This is where a specialist voice platform such as ElevenLabs can naturally enter the workflow.
But don't add a voiceover just because AI makes it easy.
Some videos work better with:
Natural sound
Music
or:
No speech at all.
Edit the AI Clips Together
AI generation is only one part of making the video.
Once you've generated your successful shots, you'll normally need to assemble them.
That might involve:
Trimming clips
Changing order
Adding transitions
Adding captions
Adding music
Adding voiceover
Adding your logo
Adjusting pacing
You can use whatever editor you already know.
There's no need to replace your entire editing workflow simply because the footage was generated with AI.
How to Make AI Videos Look Less AI-Generated
The obvious answer is:
Don't try to make AI do too much in one shot.
Common giveaways include:
Excessive movement
Morphing objects
Unnatural hands
Changing faces
Impossible physics
Background objects appearing and disappearing
Overly dramatic camera movement
Keep shots:
Short
Simple
Controlled
Then cut between them.
A clean four-second shot is more useful than an ambitious ten-second generation that falls apart halfway through.
Use AI for the Shots That Actually Need AI
You also don't need an entire video to be generated.
Suppose you're making a product video.
You might use:
Real product footage
AI establishing shot
Screen recording
AI B-roll
Real voiceover
This hybrid approach can often look more convincing than trying to generate every frame.
Can You Make AI Videos for Free?
Many AI-video platforms offer some form of free access, trial credits or limited generation, although allowances change frequently.
The more important issue is that video generation uses substantial computing power.
Free plans may therefore have restrictions around:
Generation credits
Resolution
Watermarks
Queue priority
Video length
and:
Commercial usage
Check the current terms of whichever platform you're considering before building a workflow around its free tier.
What's the Best AI Video Generator for Beginners?
I'd resist naming one universal winner.
Instead:
Want cinematic generated clips?
Want AI presenters?
Look at HeyGen.
Want to edit existing video using AI?
Look at a specialist AI video editor.
Want long videos turned into shorts?
Use a dedicated repurposing/clipping tool.
We already have a separate Best AI Video Generators article for the detailed comparison.
This article should help you make the video, not force you through another 15-product ranking.
Common AI Video Mistakes
Starting With a Vague Prompt
“Make a cool advert” gives the AI too much freedom.
Trying to Generate the Entire Video at Once
Think in individual shots.
Too Much Action
Keep each generation simple.
Ignoring the Camera
Camera instructions dramatically affect the output.
Regenerating Randomly
Change one thing at a time.
Expecting Perfect Consistency
Use references when characters or products need to remain consistent.
Generating Everything
Use real footage where it makes more sense.
Buying Five AI Video Subscriptions
Learn one platform before adding another.
How Long Does It Take to Make an AI Video?
Generating a clip may take minutes.
Making a good finished video takes longer.
For a simple short-form video, you might need:
10 minutes — idea + shot list
20–40 minutes — generations
15–30 minutes — editing
Location
Camera
Lighting
Actor
Filming
for certain types of footage.
But don't confuse:
Generation time
with:
Production time.
You'll often generate several versions before finding the one you actually use.
The Simplest AI Video Workflow for Beginners
If you're making your first AI video, I'd use this:
1. Choose a 10–20 second idea.
Don't make a short film.
2. Break it into 3–5 shots.
Write down what happens in each.
3. Choose one AI video generator.
Don't compare ten tools.
4. Write one prompt per shot.
Use:
Subject + Action + Setting + Camera + Lighting + Style
5. Generate.
Review each result.
6. Regenerate only what needs improving.
Don't constantly start again.
7. Assemble the successful clips.
Add:
Voice
Music
Captions
if needed.
8. Publish.
Then make another one.
You'll learn more from making five short videos than spending hours trying to write the “perfect AI video prompt”.
Is Making Videos With AI Worth It?
If you need video content but don't always have:
Actors
Locations
Equipment
Stock footage
Production budget
then AI video is absolutely worth experimenting with.
But its biggest advantage isn't:
AI can make an entire film for me.
It's that you can now create individual shots that previously would have been difficult, expensive or impossible for you to film.
That's a much more practical way to use the technology.
Start With One Five-Second Shot
Don't begin by asking AI to create:
A complete viral TikTok.
Create one shot.
For example:
Wide shot of a small fishing boat crossing a calm Norwegian fjord at sunrise, mist sitting above the water, snow-covered mountains in the distance, slow aerial camera movement, realistic natural lighting.
Generate it.
Look at what went wrong.
Change the prompt.
Generate again.
Once you can control one shot, make three.
Then combine them.
That's the fastest way to understand AI video generation.
Because the skill isn't simply:
Knowing which button says Generate.
It's learning how to turn the picture in your head into instructions the AI can actually follow.
