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How to Use AI for Video Editing and Content Creation

Use AI video tools to edit footage, generate captions, remove backgrounds, and create professional content without expensive software or editing skills.

10 min read27 February 2026

AI video editors like CapCut, Descript, and Runway can auto-generate captions, remove backgrounds, and suggest edits from raw footage

Use AI to generate b-roll, transitions, and visual effects without filming additional content or hiring a motion graphics designer

AI transcription tools turn long videos into short clips, blog posts, and social media content automatically

For Asian content creators, AI handles multi-language subtitles (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Bahasa) far faster than manual translation

Why This Matters

Video is king across Asia. TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Douyin, and Instagram Reels drive massive engagement, but editing video traditionally requires expensive software (Premiere Pro, Final Cut) and hours of work per minute of final content.

AI changes this completely. Tools like CapCut (from ByteDance, deeply integrated with TikTok), Runway (AI-powered creative suite), and Descript (edit video like editing text) let anyone create professional-quality video content in minutes rather than hours.

For Asian creators and businesses, this is particularly powerful: AI handles multi-language subtitles, auto-generates culturally relevant captions, and can even create synthetic b-roll. Whether you're a solo creator in Bangkok or a marketing team in Tokyo, AI video editing levels the playing field against big-budget production houses.

How to Do It

Step 1: Choose Your AI Video Tool

For quick social media content, start with CapCut (free, excellent AI features). For longer-form content or podcasts, try Descript (edit video by editing the transcript). For advanced effects and generation, look at Runway ML. Each has strengths: CapCut for TikTok/Reels, Descript for talking-head content, Runway for creative effects.

Step 2: Import and Auto-Transcribe

Upload your raw footage. AI will auto-transcribe the audio, identify speakers, and create a timeline. In Descript, you literally edit the video by editing the text transcript. Delete a sentence from the text, and it removes that section from the video. This is revolutionary for talking-head content.

Step 3: AI-Powered Editing

Use AI features: auto-remove silences and filler words ('um', 'uh'), auto-generate captions with accurate timing, AI background removal for green-screen effects without a green screen, and auto-suggest cuts and transitions based on content analysis.

Step 4: Generate Multi-Language Subtitles

For Asian markets, generate subtitles in multiple languages. CapCut supports Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, and more. AI translation is good enough for social media; for professional content, review and edit the auto-translations.

Step 5: Repurpose Content with AI

Turn one long video into multiple short clips. AI identifies the most engaging moments, suggests clip boundaries, and auto-formats for different platforms (vertical for TikTok/Reels, horizontal for YouTube, square for Instagram feed). One 30-minute video can become 10+ short clips.

What This Actually Looks Like

The Prompt

I run a small food business in Singapore and want to create TikTok content showing our cooking process. I film on my phone, have no editing experience, and need Chinese and English subtitles. What's the fastest workflow?

Example output — your results will vary based on your inputs

Perfect use case for CapCut (free, made by ByteDance). Workflow: (1) Film on phone, keep clips under 3 minutes each. (2) Open CapCut, import clips. Use 'Auto cut' to remove dead air and shaky parts. (3) Tap 'Auto captions' for English subtitles. Then duplicate and use 'Translate' for Chinese subtitles. Position English at bottom, Chinese slightly above. (4) Add trending TikTok music from CapCut's library. (5) Use 'Auto reframe' if your footage is horizontal but you need vertical TikTok format. (6) Export and post directly to TikTok from CapCut. Total editing time: 10-15 minutes per video once you're familiar. For food content specifically: use CapCut's speed ramp feature (slow motion for plating, fast forward for prep) and the 'enhance' filter to make food colours pop.

Prompts to Try

Video Repurposing Prompt

I have a [length] video about [topic]. Help me plan how to repurpose it into: TikTok clips, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and a blog post. What are the best moments to clip?

What to expect: Content repurposing strategy with specific timestamp suggestions and platform-specific formatting advice.

Caption Style Guide Prompt

I create [type of content] for [platform]. Help me write caption styles that work for my audience in [country/language]. Include hooks, hashtag strategy, and call-to-action templates.

What to expect: Platform-specific caption templates with culturally relevant hooks and engagement strategies.

Video Content Calendar Prompt

I want to post [frequency] on [platforms]. My business is [description]. Create a 30-day content calendar with video ideas, formats, and estimated production time using AI tools.

What to expect: Detailed content calendar with specific video formats, AI tool recommendations for each, and time estimates.

Common Mistakes

Over-Relying on AI Captions Without Review

AI captions are 90-95% accurate but make errors with proper nouns, technical terms, and Asian language names. Always review captions before publishing. One wrong subtitle can change meaning entirely.

Ignoring Platform-Specific Formats

TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels have different optimal lengths, aspect ratios, and content styles. Don't just resize the same video. Use AI to create platform-specific versions.

Forgetting Audio Quality

AI can fix many visual issues but poor audio is harder to salvage. Invest in a basic lapel mic (under $20). AI noise removal (in Descript or CapCut) works well but can't fix fundamentally bad recordings.

Tools That Work for This

CapCutFree AI video editor from ByteDance. Excellent for TikTok/Reels content with auto-captions, background removal, and AI effects.

Best for short-form content under 10 minutes. Limited collaboration features.

DescriptEdit video by editing text transcript. AI removes filler words, generates captions, and allows text-based video editing.

Subscription required for full features. Best for talking-head and podcast content.

Runway MLAdvanced AI creative suite with video generation, background removal, motion tracking, and text-to-video capabilities.

More complex learning curve. Credit-based pricing for AI generation features.

Frequently Asked Questions

For social media content, largely yes. AI handles 80% of what a basic editor does: cuts, captions, transitions, colour correction. For complex narrative content (documentaries, ads with precise timing), you still want a human editor. The sweet spot is using AI for the tedious parts (captions, rough cuts) and spending your time on creative decisions.

CapCut leads for Asian languages because ByteDance (its parent company) has invested heavily in CJK language support. It handles Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Bahasa Indonesian subtitles well. For professional translation quality, pair AI subtitles with a quick human review.

CapCut is free with optional premium features. Descript starts at US$24/month. Runway ML has a free tier with limited credits, paid plans from US$12/month. For most small businesses and creators, CapCut's free tier is sufficient to start.

Next Steps

- Download CapCut and create your first AI-edited video
- Film 3-5 short clips of your product or service
- Experiment with auto-captions in multiple languages
- Create a content calendar for the next 30 days
- Test posting at different times to find your audience's peak engagement

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