"How to Make AI Videos in 2026: Text, Image, and Edit"
AI video crossed into “good enough for real work” in 2026. This guide covers the workflow from prompt to finished clip — and the one change everyone missed: OpenAI discontinued Sora. The consumer app shut down on April 26, 2026, and the API ends September 24, 2026, so it is no longer a recommendation.
Step 1: Choose your input type
- Text-to-video: describe a scene (“a drone shot over a foggy harbor at dawn”).
- Image-to-video: upload a still and animate it — best for brand consistency.
Step 2: Pick a tool
- Runway Gen-4 — the editor’s choice: motion brush, mask editing, multi-shot timelines. From ~$12–15/mo. Review
- Google Veo 3.1 — best raw quality with native 4K and synced audio; 8-second clips. Review
- Kling 3.0 — best value: 4K at 60fps, 15-second clips, motion control, pay-per-clip from ~$0.40. Review
Full breakdown in Runway vs Kling vs Veo and the video tools roundup.
Step 3: Structure the prompt
Name the subject, camera move, lighting, and mood. “Slow dolly-in on a ceramic mug, steam rising, warm kitchen light, 4K.” Specific camera language separates pro output from mush.
Step 4: Control motion
Use motion brushes or reference videos to lock a character’s movement. Kling’s Motion Control and Runway’s mask editing are the tools that make a clip usable rather than random.
Step 5: Edit and add audio
Generate B-roll, then cut it in a normal editor. Veo and Kling emit native audio; for dialogue, dub with ElevenLabs.
FAQ
Is Sora still available? No. The app closed April 26, 2026; the API follows September 24, 2026. Use Veo, Kling, or Runway.
Which tool for a beginner? Kling for value, Runway for control, Veo for a hero shot.
Can I use these commercially? Check each plan’s license; free tiers usually restrict commercial use.
Bottom line
Start with image-to-video for brand control, pick Kling or Runway, and edit like a normal video. The model makes the clip; you make the cut.