Introduction to AI Video
Video content dominates the internet. From YouTube to TikTok, from marketing campaigns to online courses, video is how we communicate, educate, and entertain. But creating professional video has traditionally required expensive equipment, specialized skills, and countless hours of work.
AI is changing everything.
The AI Video Revolution
In 2024-2025, we've witnessed an explosion in AI video capabilities:
- Text-to-video models can generate footage from written descriptions
- AI editing tools can cut, enhance, and transform videos automatically
- AI avatars can deliver presentations in any language
- Automation tools can repurpose one video into dozens of formats
What once took a production team weeks can now be accomplished by one person in hours.
What You Can Create with AI
| Use Case | Traditional Approach | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Explainer video | Hire animator, 2-4 weeks | Generate with AI avatar, 1 hour |
| B-roll footage | Stock video subscription or shoot | Generate custom footage instantly |
| Subtitles | Manual transcription or pay service | Auto-generate in seconds |
| Thumbnail | Graphic designer | AI image generation |
| Video repurposing | Manual editing for each platform | Automated reformatting |
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for:
- Video creators who want to speed up their workflow
- Marketers who need to produce video content at scale
- Social media managers handling multiple platforms
- Content creators looking to expand into video
- Business owners who want professional videos without professional budgets
What You'll Learn
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Generate video from text using tools like Runway and Pika
- Edit videos efficiently with AI-powered tools like CapCut and Descript
- Create AI avatar videos with HeyGen and Synthesia
- Automate short-form content for social media platforms
- Repurpose long videos into multiple formats
- Generate supporting assets like thumbnails, B-roll, and music
- Build complete workflows for different video types
The Tools You'll Master
Throughout this course, we'll explore:
Generation Tools:
- Runway Gen-3 Alpha
- Pika Labs
- OpenAI Sora (concepts)
Editing Tools:
- CapCut (AI features)
- Descript
- Adobe Premiere (AI features)
Avatar Tools:
- HeyGen
- Synthesia
- D-ID
Supporting Tools:
- AI image generators for thumbnails
- AI music generators
- Automated captioning tools
Prerequisites
No video editing experience is required, but it helps to have:
- Basic computer skills
- A willingness to experiment with new tools
- Access to a web browser (most tools work in-browser)
Some tools have free tiers, while others require subscriptions. We'll note the costs and free alternatives throughout.
Key Takeaway
AI video tools aren't replacing human creativity—they're amplifying it. The best results come from combining AI capabilities with human judgment about what story to tell and how to tell it. In the next lesson, we'll survey the AI video landscape and understand what's possible today.