Best AI Tools for Content Creation: Photos + Videos

We’ve talked a lot on our blog about using AI to support your social media content strategy (HERE are some of our favorite AI tools for tasks including copy, planning, and social listening). AI can help you brainstorm ideas, create clever captions, and so much more. Today, we’re diving into the best AI tools for photo and video content creation. That’s right, AI has the capability to create and edit visual content, too. Let’s get into it…

For Photos (Posts, Thumbnails, Ads, etc.):

• Canva AI instantly generates templates, images, and even videos from prompts. This is best for polished Instagram posts, stories, ads, and quick designs.

• Adobe Firefly is amazing for luxury and professional brands because it produces super high-quality text-to-image and generative fill for editing photos or creating new visuals.

• Remini AI upscales blurry or low-quality images—perfect for reviving old content.

• PhotoRoom offers auto background removal along with stunning product photo generation. This is ideal for e-commerce or branding posts.

• Pixlr X / Pixlr E are lightweight, fast browser-based photo editors with AI tools like background removal and on-click touchups.

• Runway ML creates surreal, hyper-creative imagery for more artsy, edgy brands.

• DALL.E 3 (through ChatGPT or OpenAI platform) generates original, realistic, or artistic images from text prompts. It’s awesome for eye-catching posts that need custom visuals.

• ContentDrips auto-generates LinkedIn posts and carousel graphics.

For Videos (Reels, TikToks, Shorts, etc.):

• CapCut AI is our favorite video editing app for TikTok and Reels. Think auto-captions, templates, and video resizing for all platforms.

• Runway ML is the next level in creative editing…Think video inpainting (like erasing stuff) and AI-generated videos from text prompts.

• Pika Labs enables text-to-video generation which can be useful for viral, experimental reels (Trial Reels, anyone?).

• Pictory turns blog posts or articles into engaging videos complete with accurate subtitles and branding elements like logos and colors.

• Descript lets you edit videos like a Word doc (change text = change the video). This can be great for talking-head, tutorial, or podcast clips. 

• InVideo AI, an AI script-to-video creator that’s chock full of stock footage and templates. This is good for marketers and content creators doing educational/quick tip videos.

• VEED.IO is a super clean editor with subtitles, audio cleanup, and translations. What’s more, it now has AI avatars and auto-video translation, too.

• Lumen5 turns blog posts into videos automatically for apps like LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

• HeyGen makes AI avatar videos — you can create “you” speaking in 5+ languages without recording yourself again!

• Kaiber AI lets you make music videos and animated social media clips from static images or prompts.

• Opus Clip turns long videos into viral short clips.

And remember, though AI is great (spectacular, in fact), you—and your brand—want to make sure you humanize your AI. What does that mean? AI is a TOOL rather than a REPLACEMENT for your own creative intelligence. Don’t just post stiff, robotic content that sounds like a machine wrote (or made) it. Additionally, blend AI efficiency with real human emotion, voice, and connection. In practice, this looks like:

• Adding real stories, experiences, or behind-the-scenes moments to AI-generated posts.

• Editing AI-written captions so they sound more natural, casual, or emotionally authentic to your brand.

• Using humor, imperfections, and personality (i.e. not sounding too polished or “corporate”).

• Making space for real interaction by responding to comments or DMs (not just auto-replies).

• Showing face (team, founder, customers) and human moments, not just perfect AI graphics. 

• Click here for our AI Best Practices Guide

Need more of a launching pad (think: strategy) before you tackle some of these AI tools? Join Media À La Carte’s Content Calendar Club, a done-for-you content strategy with prompts for Reels, Carousels, Captions, and Stories to help you grow your audience and convert them to customers. With two weeks of content concepts delivered straight to your inbox every other week and access to our exclusive Club on Facebook to ask the MALC team your most burning questions, you’ll never feel lost on social again.