When AI edits for us: what future for the video editor?

You've probably seen those videos that come out at lightning speed after an event, with impeccable cuts, perfectly synchronized subtitles and a rhythm that sticks to the fingertips. It moves fast. Too fast to be done by hand by a video editor? Exactly.
Welcome to the age of artificial intelligence video editing. Tools such as Yuzzit, Adobe Sensei, Runway and Descript are shaking things up. For some, it's a life-saving revolution. For others, it's a silent threat. And in the midst of all this? The editor, human, sensitive, often in the shadows, whose role is changing at great speed.
So, is AI here to help us or to take our seat? Spoiler: it's a great tool when wisely combined with humans.
The new Swiss Army knives of editing
Let's start with a reality check: AI tools are everywhere. It's no longer science fiction, it's everyday life.
Take Descript. You import a video, the tool transcribes it, and you can even edit it by deleting words, just like in a Word document. Magic, isn't it? Then there's Runway, which lets you remove a background, stabilize an image or even generate a transition with a simple click. And Adobe Sensei? Intelligent cropping, clean sound, automatic cuts... all while you sip your coffee.
These tools promise to save an incredible amount of time, democratize editing and enable anyone to produce engaging content. And for fast content - the real thing, the shorts, the stories - it's ultra-efficient.
But does fast production necessarily mean good storytelling? Obviously, you need a strategy and a real vision to make it work.
AI that can cut... but not tell
That's where the limits come in. AI knows how to do precise things: cut silences, detect a blurred shot, identify a missed take. It analyzes, sorts and executes.
But she doesn't understand.
She doesn't realize that this slightly blurred shot creates a sense of urgency. She doesn't know that this awkward silence between two characters is pregnant with meaning. She doesn't feel the dramatic build-up, the tension, the viewer's heartbeat. And above all: she has no narrative intuition.
Give her rushes from an intimate documentary? She'll come up with a clean, soulless version. Because she doesn't know what you meant. She's not living the story. She's not listening to the film's inner music.
The video editor: that invisible author
This is where the video editor's real role comes in. Not the one we often think of - the "shot cutter", the "timeline technician". No. The editor is the co-narrator. The one who senses the director's intention, who chooses to extend a look or break a rhythm. The one who sculpts emotion in time.
Good video editors don't just "do the job". They tell, they suggest, they hide or reveal. Their work is often invisible, and therein lies the magic. Like a good soundtrack: if you notice it, maybe it's not so good.
And for the moment, AI doesn't know how to do that. Not because it "sucks", but because it has no experience, no subjectivity, no artistic sensibility. She executes. The editor interprets.
Towards cohabitation?
So should we be wary? Not at all!
Clearly, the future of editing looks like hybrid collaboration. The AI will take care of the drudgery: de-crushing, making proposals, creating first drafts. And the editor will refine, reinterpret and give meaning.
That's what some studios are already doing. Saving time on execution to concentrate on the essence of editing: storytelling. And for creators, companies or brands, it's a godsend. AI makes it possible to produce more, faster, without sacrificing creativity... as long as you keep a human eye on the result.
But beware of the trap: the temptation of all-automation, which leads to videos that are clean but generic, with no style, no signature. If we leave everything to the algorithms, we'll end up with content that all looks the same... and no one will be moved by it.
Yuzzit: editors' ally, not their replacement
Tools that illustrate this collaborative approach, Yuzzit stands out. Our platform makes it possible to capture, trim and publish video extracts in real time, ideal for live events or content destined for social networks.
Yuzzit automates repetitive tasks such as clipping, subtitling and format adaptation, while giving video editors creative control over the final content. It's a tool that speeds up the process without sacrificing narrative quality.
Tomorrow's editor: technician or conductor?
What's on the horizon is not the disappearance of the video editor, but his or her transformation. Less repetitive tasks, more creative direction. Fewer technical clicks, more artistic choices.
Tomorrow, a good editor will be able to talk to an AI in the same way as he talks to a director today. He'll be able to say to it: "Give me a basis", but above all: "Let me tell the story in my own way."
Because editing isn't about assembly. It's an art of emotion and rhythm. And no software can do that without us.
Final Words
AI in editing is a bit like a super assistant: fast, efficient, always available. But it's not going to feel a scene, choose a silence, or decide to prolong a look. That's up to you. That's us.
Tools like Yuzzit show the way: you save time, you automate what can be automated, but you keep your hand on the essentials. Editing doesn't die, it evolves. And as long as stories need to be told from the heart, there will always be a need for a human eye to bring the images to life.
So no, AI isn't going to steal your video project. But it can free up your time... to create something even better.
Frequently asked questions
Will AI replace the job of video editor?
No, but it will transform it. AI takes over the repetitive technical tasks (de-rushing, subtitling, cropping), allowing the editor to refocus on what makes his job so rich: storytelling, emotion and rhythm. The future of video editing doesn't lie in its disappearance, but in a shift towards more artistic direction.
How can a video editor adapt to AI tools?
By integrating them as assistants, not competitors. Mastering AI tools means gaining productivity without losing your creative identity. By adopting these technologies, the video editor becomes a conductor capable of guiding the AI to tell a better story. The key: stay curious, test, and keep control of narrative choices.
Will the role of the video editor evolve towards new skills?
Yes, and it's an opportunity to be seized. With the rise of AI, the video editor is no longer just a technician, but is becoming a true narrative designer. Understanding social codes, adapting to digital formats, guiding intelligent tools: it's these hybrid skills, at the crossroads of creativity, strategy and tech, that will shape the editor of tomorrow.