Can ChatGPT Make Videos?

Key takeaways

ChatGPT can write scripts, create captions, and build prompts, but it cannot generate videos on its own.

• OpenAI's dedicated text-to-video model, Sora, was discontinued in April 2026, and the Sora API will be discontinued in September 2026, so that platform can no longer be used to generate videos [1].

• Giving ChatGPT specific context, including your target audience, tone, and video format, helps it produce more usable content that can help you get closer to producing a video, using other tools.

• You can pair ChatGPT with dedicated AI video platforms to create a video.

Learn how ChatGPT fits into the video production process and what AI tools work with it. If you're ready to start building your skills with AI tools for creative work, enroll in the University of Michigan AI for Creative Work Specialization. You'll have the opportunity to explore generative AI, practice prompt engineering, and develop a framework for evaluating and using AI tools responsibly.

Can ChatGPT make videos?

ChatGPT cannot generate video on its own. However, its ability to write scripts, draft captions, and build prompts for AI video tools makes it a practical part of a video creation workflow. As a text-based tool, it reads, writes, and responds to language, making it well-suited for the written groundwork you need for a strong video.

OpenAI previously offered a dedicated text-to-video model called Sora, which created short video clips from written prompts, but it was discontinued in 2026 [1]. Sora and ChatGPT were separate tools. Now, pairing ChatGPT with other AI video platforms opens up a more complete creative process and allows you to make videos.

Can ChatGPT make video reels?

ChatGPT cannot make video reels on its own, but it can outline your video and write the script and captions. From there, a dedicated video tool can produce the final reel.

What can ChatGPT do for video creation?

ChatGPT supports video production by handling the written tasks that take place before you record or render footage. This includes scripting, outlining, drafting captions, and writing prompts for AI video tools.

• Write scripts: Start by giving ChatGPT the context it needs, including your target audience, the video's purpose, the tone you want, and an approximate length.

• Draft captions and titles: Paste your script or key talking points into ChatGPT and ask it to generate caption options, on-screen text, or title variations for different platforms.

• Generate prompts for AI video tools: ChatGPT can help you translate a rough creative idea into a structured, detailed prompt ready to use in a text-to-video platform.

• Build outlines and storyboards: Ask ChatGPT to break your concept into scenes, specifying what happens visually and what is said in each one. This gives you a structured plan before you move into production.

Which AI video generators work with ChatGPT?

The right AI tool depends on what stage of production you're in and how much of the work you want the platform to handle. If you have a polished ChatGPT-generated script and want a fast, finished video, you may prefer a platform that can do a lot of the production work for you. If you're starting with a text prompt and want more creative control over how the video looks and moves, a platform with more advanced camera and motion controls may be a better fit.

The following tools can help with AI video generation:

• Runway [2]

• Synthesia [3]

• Pictory [4]

• InVideo [5]

• Veed [6]

How can you use ChatGPT in a video creation workflow?

Whether you're producing a short social reel or a longer explainer video, ChatGPT can fit into your workflow in practical ways. The following examples offer four concrete ways to put it to work.

Explainer video scripts

If you have a topic but are trying to decide how to structure it for a video, ChatGPT can generate a working script based on your audience, tone, and video length. The more detail you give ChatGPT at the start, the stronger the output tends to be. You can also ask ChatGPT to adjust pacing, rewrite sections for a different audience, or refine specific lines once you have a draft to work from.

Sample prompt: Write a 90-second explainer video script for a YouTube video. The audience is first-time users of AI tools. Focus on one key message: AI image generators turn text descriptions into images in seconds. Use a conversational tone, avoid technical jargon, and end with a call to action to try a free AI image generator.

Scene-by-scene outlines

A scene-by-scene outline shows you how your video will flow. Ask ChatGPT to break your script or concept into individual scenes, specifying the visuals and audio in each one. This is particularly useful when working with AI video tools, which typically produce better results when given structured, scene-level direction rather than a single broad prompt.

Sample prompt: Break the following script into a scene-by-scene outline for a two-minute YouTube explainer video. For each scene, describe what is happening visually, what is being said, and the approximate length: [paste script].

ChatGPT video generator prompts

Text-to-video platforms like Runway respond to the level of detail in your prompt [2]. Ask ChatGPT to help you describe your scene in specific terms, including subject, setting, camera angle, lighting, and motion. Then use that output as your prompt in the video tool.

Sample prompt: Write a detailed text-to-video prompt for a 10-second scene of a small business owner opening her shop on a quiet street on a sunny morning. Include camera angle, lighting conditions, background details, and the mood of the scene.

Captions and titles for video reels

Short-form video performs best when the caption gives the viewer a reason to stop scrolling and gives your audience another way to interact with your content. ChatGPT can generate caption options, on-screen text, and title variations tailored to your platform, whether that's Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or YouTube. Give it your script or key talking points and ask for multiple options so you have something to work from.

Sample prompt: Write five caption options for an Instagram reel aimed at small business owners about the benefits of using AI tools for marketing. Keep each caption under 150 characters, use a conversational tone, and end with a call to action.

What is the best AI for creating videos?

The best AI video tool depends on what you need it to do. Some platforms work better when you start with a finished script, while others can generate video directly from your text prompt. The right choice comes down to where you are in your workflow and how much creative control you want over the finished video.

What are the ethical and practical considerations for using ChatGPT in video creation?

As AI becomes a more common part of content production, how you use it matters as much as whether you use it. A script that sounds authoritative can still contain factual errors, and a video that resonates with viewers may raise questions about disclosure. A few considerations worth factoring into your workflow include:

• Accuracy: ChatGPT can generate information that sounds plausible yet is factually incorrect. Before publishing, review any claims, statistics, or technical details and verify them against credible sources.

• Transparency: Depending on your audience, platform, and content, you may choose to disclose that you used ChatGPT in your video production process. Some platforms are beginning to require this type of disclosure, so check policies before you publish.

• Copyright: Since ChatGPT generates text based on patterns it learned in existing content, copyright can be an issue. Treat what ChatGPT produces as a first draft and revise it to reflect your own voice and intent.

• Over-reliance: ChatGPT is a useful tool for getting started, but it's not meant to produce a final product. Scripts, outlines, and prompts benefit from human review. Your understanding of your audience goes further than any AI tool can.

Learn more: AI Hallucinations – Understanding the Phenomenon and Its Implications

Explore free resources for AI and creative work

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry insights, tips, and trends in AI and emerging technology. Then, explore these free resources to keep learning:

• Bookmark this page: Artificial Intelligence Glossary: Learn AI Vocabulary

• Try new techniques: 3 GenAI Prompting Methods Worth Trying

• Read expert insights: AI Creativity Unleashed: Expert Insights from Vanderbilt's Dr. Jules White

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