Instagram Rolls Out 'First Draft' Tool to Speed Up Reels Editing
The feature trims clips and cuts pauses in under 10 seconds, and Instagram says it does not use artificial intelligence.
Instagram announced Tuesday that it is rolling out a new editing tool called First Draft, designed to cut down on one of the more tedious parts of making Reels: trimming clips and stitching them together. The company said in a post on Threads that the tool can produce a rough cut in under 10 seconds, according to TechCrunch.
The feature works by analyzing multiple video clips a user selects, then automatically removing pauses and pulling out what it identifies as the best moments, TechCrunch reported. Creators end up with an assembled draft they can then refine, rather than working through every clip by hand. Instagram says First Draft is built for "multi-clip montages, talking-head videos, and day-in-the-life content," according to The Verge.
Users can reach the tool two ways: by tapping a First Draft button after filming in Instagram's camera, or by selecting several clips in the Reels gallery, The Verge reported. The feature is starting out on iPhone only.
Not Powered by AI, Despite the Comparisons
The tool resembles automated editing features already on the market, including Adobe Firefly's Quick Cuts and CapCut's Auto Cut, according to TechCrunch. But there is one notable difference. Adobe's Quick Cut feature relies on artificial intelligence to combine clips based on a prompt, while Instagram's First Draft does not use AI at all, an Instagram spokesperson, Nicole Rechtszaid, told The Verge.
Even without AI in the mix, folding the trimming function directly into Instagram's own app gives creators less reason to export footage to a separate editing program, TechCrunch reported.
First Draft is the latest in a string of creator-focused tools Instagram has rolled out this year. The company previously introduced a "Replace Audio" feature that lets users swap the music on existing posts without deleting and reposting them, and it is developing a new AI assistant for its standalone editing app, Edits, according to TechCrunch. Instagram has also been testing a feature called "Series" that lets creators group related Reels in a set order for viewers.
Timing Lands Amid a High-Profile Trial
TechCrunch noted that Instagram announced First Draft the same day its head, Adam Mosseri, was expected to testify in a closely watched trial over Meta's social media products. The lawsuit accuses Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook in ways that encourage children to use the platforms compulsively while not addressing the potential harms, according to TechCrunch. Meta has denied the allegations.
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