Insights from hands-on use of AI video generators

Following my overview of these seven AI video generators, I asked my students to pick just one to use for their capstone assignment. I also disclosed that I was writing this article and allowed my students to contribute their thoughts on the option that they had used.

Dana Al Khulaifi, a student at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and a Data and Technical Support Manager at Dawahi AlAin, a community project, said:

• “It was easy and enjoyable to create videos with InVideo.io! My thoughts were given to the AI, which created a masterpiece out of them. I was able to produce professional-looking videos quickly because the AI handled the majority of the work.”
• “I was really pleased with the range of layouts and how simple it was to customize it. It took hardly any effort to make my videos appear fantastic. InVideo.io is an amazing resource for anyone looking to create amazing videos fast and simply.”

Three other students, who wanted to remain anonymous, shared their comments about other AI video generators that they had used:

• One student explored Synthesia for creating AI-generated videos. She was impressed by the availability of different Arabic dialects but noted that the pronunciation in Arabic was not perfect. She suggested that AI still needs human guidance for quality control, such as improving pronunciation and adding emotional expressions.
• Another student used Runway for video creation, finding the process straightforward with tools for editing, transitions and effects. She noted that while AI could automate many aspects, it still lacked the originality and emotional depth that human creativity provides. She emphasized the importance of human oversight in bringing contextual awareness and cultural sensitivity to AI-generated videos.
• A third student used Canva to create videos quickly. She noted the efficiency and speed of AI tools but highlighted the lack of emotional expression and the computer-like tone of AI-generated content. She suggested that AI tools could be used for drafting videos, which could later be refined with better AI tools or human intervention for a more polished final product.

Here is a list of comments about using AI videos from more than a dozen other students:

• “I tried to use AI tools, but the video seemed very boring and didn’t really showcase anything social.”
• “Comparing the AI video with the one I created, the AI video was less engaging.”
• “AI is great but lacks human touch, especially in terms of storytelling and video quality.”
• “The AI didn’t really match the style I wanted, and the video felt robotic.”
• “The AI video was interesting but not as detailed or creative as the one created by the human team.”
• “AI-generated content still needs human input; the video didn’t capture the creativity I was looking for.”
• “I tried to challenge the AI, but it struggled to properly depict what I had in mind, especially with cultural representation.”
• “The AI couldn’t get the hands right – it looked weird, and the voice-over was robotic.”
• “AI tools provided options and brainstorming ideas but didn’t produce a final result that was up to par.”
• “AI video was very different from what I expected, especially when it came to hands and backgrounds. It wasn’t fully accurate.”
• “AI is good for generating basic content, but it lacks the precision and personalization needed for luxury brands.”
• “The AI had issues with details like hands, and the background didn’t match the context I intended.”
• “AI videos often don’t have the same emotional connection or creative flow as those made by humans.”
• “The backgrounds created by AI often don’t fit the context I want.”
• “AI videos can create something quickly but lack in creativity and detail.”
• “It didn’t feel authentic; AI cannot replace the human touch and emotional intelligence.”
• “The hands and background in the AI video were distorted and didn’t match my original idea.”

Advantages and challenges of AI in video creation

Overall, here are the general observations made by dozens of students in the two classes:

Advantages

• Efficiency and speed: AI tools can quickly generate videos, providing a starting point or draft for content creation.
• Ease of use: Many students found AI video tools straightforward, enabling them to create videos without extensive technical knowledge.
• Versatility: Tools like Synthesia offer diverse options, such as different languages and dialects, enhancing accessibility.

Limitations and challenges

• Need for human intervention: AI-generated content often requires human oversight to ensure cultural relevance, emotional depth, and accuracy.
• Pronunciation and expression: AI-generated voices, particularly in non-English languages, may lack proper pronunciation and emotional expressiveness.
• Content authenticity: AI tools can struggle with originality and creativity, emphasizing the need for human creativity to add unique elements.

Testing the top AI video generators while waiting for Sora

While waiting for Sora, evaluating other AI video generators can still teach us some important lessons.

The most important lesson is this: “AI won’t take your job, it’s somebody using AI that will take your job.”

The economist, Richard Baldwin, was the first person to say this at the 2023 World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, and variations of this phrase have been repeated as people discuss the potential impacts of AI.

Don’t wait for the perfect AI video generator to finally appear.

Evaluate some of the best ones that are already available to learn what they can – and can’t – do already. Taking this test-and-learn approach will enable you to evaluate Sora when it appears.

And if Sora doesn’t arrive in the foreseeable future, then you will have learned another important lesson: “Perfect is the enemy of the good.”

Either way, you are less likely to lose your job because you don’t know when or how to use AI to “generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt,” which is what Sora keeps promising to do.