I Fought Super AI in an Editing Battle
Education
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly the hot topic of the century, seemingly taking jobs left, right, and center. However, I’m here to advocate for content creators and video editors, proving that AI is not yet ready to take our jobs. In this article, I’ll share my experience taking on an AI named Dave in a friendly editing competition, with three challenges designed to test our editing skills.
Setting the Stage
To give you some context, the AI I was battling against, Dave, was acquired from a garage sale for just two pounds. Despite his cheap price, he had access to all of the major AI software available online. The stakes were high—I would face a forfeit if I lost, and Dave would have to suffer a punishment at my hands if I emerged victorious.
Let's dive into the challenges that awaited us!
Challenge 1: Editing Footage
The first task was to edit a video intro featuring footage of myself speaking to the camera. The job of an editor often involves cutting out silences, awkward pauses, and bad takes, assembling a beautiful final product. I worked diligently on my edit while Dave used an AI tool called Cling to quickly cut the raw footage based on silence and undesirable takes.
While Dave finished in a remarkably speedy manner—within just 30 seconds—I took about 30 minutes to refine my edit. When we compared our final versions, it became clear that while Dave’s quick edits showcased some efficiency, the pacing was abrupt and lacked the comedic timing that I had injected into my work. This challenge solidified my belief that while AI may be able to get a rough cut together, it can’t replicate the human touch necessary for a polished final piece.
Challenge 2: The Creative Spin
For the second challenge, Dave and I had to create something imaginative using a simple clip of me walking down the street. Each of us had an hour to work, and I, feeling the pressure, jumped straight into DaVinci Resolve to add some effects and flourishes. Unfortunately, I ended up wasting a good chunk of time trying different effects.
Meanwhile, Dave employed an advanced AI generation tool called Taal Kaiba, which allowed for dramatic transformations of video footage. Although I found humor in my creation through a mock news segment style, I was left wondering how it would measure up against AI's artistic capabilities.
When the hour was over, we reviewed our clips. My piece was undoubtedly funny, while Dave’s work was weird and visually intriguing. Clearly, creativity isn't just about whimsy—it also requires an understanding of context and emotional resonance that AI doesn't yet have.
Challenge 3: Thumbnail Creation
The final challenge revolved around creating thumbnails—an important aspect of video presentation. I turned to ChatGPT for inspiration, which resulted in a broad title, “Mind-Blowing Discovery: Uncovering the Secrets of Ancient Civilization.” Both Dave and I set to work crafting visually appealing thumbnails based on this prompt, and in a bid for impartiality, we had the well-respected Ed from Film Booth judge our efforts.
Using a system called Daddy, Dave quickly generated a realistic image as his thumbnail based on our title. Meanwhile, I engaged in a more laborious effort to create a visually striking thumbnail, incorporating various elements, including a cut-out of Mr. Beast.
When it came time for judgment, Ed had little positive feedback for my creation, likening it to a coffee advertisement and ultimately rejecting it in comparison to Dave's work.
Conclusion: The Human Touch in Creativity
While AI can assist in mundane tasks and even produce some peculiar content, the human element in creativity is irreplaceable. AI developments like those showcased in my battles against Dave are impressive; however, they underscore the importance of human creativity and decision-making. I ended up winning the battle, but I walked away with a newfound respect for AI as a useful tool that can make the editing process more efficient—albeit not a suitable replacement for human ingenuity.
Keywords
AI, video editing, creativity, editing challenge, content creation, human touch, thumbnail creation, humor, editing software.
FAQ
Q: Can AI fully replace human editors?
A: No, AI can assist with rough cuts and mundane tasks but lacks the emotional nuance and creativity found in human editing.
Q: What software did you use for editing?
A: I utilized DaVinci Resolve for the creative editing challenges.
Q: How did you determine the winner of the challenges?
A: A guest judge, Ed from Film Booth, evaluated our work without knowing which edits belonged to whom.
Q: What theorem does AI currently fail to grasp?
A: AI struggles with creative contexts, making decisions that require humor and emotional resonance typical of human creators.
Q: Can AI assist in video editing tasks?
A: Yes, AI tools can help make editing more efficient, particularly with mundane tasks like trimming footage.
