Adobe has introduced a new Firefly tool designed to assist video editors with storytelling by creating an initial cut to refine and expand upon. The Quick Cut feature is now available in beta for Firefly’s video editor, enabling users to automatically piece together clips using text prompts and simple inputs from creators.
“Quick Cut enables creators to upload their own b-roll or generate new footage and quickly turn it into a structured first cut. Say goodbye to an empty timeline and hello to momentum,” stated Mike Polner, Adobe’s head of product marketing for creators, in the announcement. “It’s a rapid way to transition from ‘I have clips’ to ‘I have an editable sequence.'”
The objective is to reduce the manual effort needed for rough editing drafts, allowing more time to enhance the narrative and perform technical audio/visual improvements. Users can upload footage or create AI clips and describe how they wish to assemble them, such as instructing Firefly to edit podcasts, interviews, and product reviews that highlight key moments. The tool also permits users to make edits using a transcription timeline and adjust the aspect ratio and video length of the draft.
“Video editing involves tasks that can be tedious and aren’t part of the creative process. We aim to use generative AI and assistive AI to bring you to a point where your creativity can flourish,” said Mike Folgner, Adobe’s senior director of product management, to The Verge. “Our goal is to eliminate tedious tasks and provide you with something to react to while maintaining full control.”
Adobe demonstrated the feature by assembling clips for a gaming console controller review. The Quick Cut video required obvious refinement—Adobe emphasized that it is not intended to produce polished, final edits—but it was remarkably fast. What the tool accomplished in seconds would have taken considerably longer to assemble manually.