How to Make AI Videos (+6 Editable Video Templates)

Making an AI video isn’t a one-size-fits-all process.

The approach you take depends on the type of video you want to create, from creative clips like cinematic scenes, animations, or social videos, to business content like explainers, product demos, and training videos.

You can create all of these types of videos with Synthesia, and I’ll show you exactly how to do it.

How to make cinematic and creative AI videos

Synthesia gives you free access to two of the best AI video generators.

Veo 3.1

Veo 3.1 is a cutting-edge text-to-video model focused on cinematic realism, with strong motion, lighting, and scene coherence.

It’s ideal for generating short, film-like clips from detailed prompts.

Check out our detailed guide on how to use Veo 3 for free in Synthesia.

Sora 2

Sora 2 excels at generating longer, more coherent video sequences with consistent characters, environments, and camera movement.

It’s particularly well suited for story-driven scenes and multi-shot narratives.

Check out our detailed guide on how to use Sora 2 for free in Synthesia.‍

Step 1: Sign up for a free Synthesia account

Start by creating a free Synthesia account. You can sign up using your email address or a Google account.

Verify via the code sent to your inbox.

Step 2: Navigate to the AI Playground

After logging in and going through the onboarding steps, navigate to the AI Playground which can be found in the left-hand sidebar from the main Synthesia dashboard.

The AI Playground is where you can generate video clips and images using text prompts. It allows you to test multiple generative AI  models in one place and quickly compare results.

Step 3: Input your prompt

In the prompt field, describe the video you want to generate. The more specific your prompt is, the better the results will be.

💡 Tips for Veo 3 prompts

‍Veo 3 performs best when prompts describe a clear visual moment rather than a full story. Aim for a few concise sentences that lock in the scene and visual intent. Includ

• Scene focus and action: what is happening in the frame and what the subject is doing
• Visual realism: cinematic, photorealistic, naturalistic, stylized
• Camera behavior: static shot, slow pan, smooth tracking, shallow depth of field
• Motion clarity: deliberate movement, slow gestures, controlled pacing
• Environment detail: indoor or outdoor, time of day, weather, background complexity
• Constraints or exclusions: simple background, no fast cuts, no exaggerated motion, realistic physics

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💡 Tips for Sora 2 prompts

‍Sora 2 performs best with short, precise instructions. Aim for 3–6 sentences that fix the essentials. Include:

• Subject and setting: who/what and where
• Style and mood: cinematic, documentary, photorealistic; calm, energetic, moody
• Camera and motion: locked tripod, slow dolly‑in, gentle orbit
• Lighting: soft key, rim light, high‑key, low contrast
• Must‑haves or exclusions: “minimal background,” “no handheld shake,” brand colour cues

‍How to make professional AI videos for business

Step 1: Log in to Synthesia

Click here to log in or sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Select 'Create' from the homepage

Click 'Create' at the top of the Synthesia homepage and select 'Video'.

If you're uploading a PowerPoint and want to convert your slides 1:1 to video scenes, then choose the 'Import PowerPoint' option instead.

Step 3: Choose an AI video template

High-quality AI video templates you can use right away

Synthesia offers a wide variety of video templates which you can edit to fit your needs. Below are some of my favorite templates for a range of video types.

Training and education

‍AI training videos work especially well when they follow a familiar classroom-style format. An AI presenter can structure the lesson, explain concepts clearly, and highlight key points, making complex topics easier to follow and more approachable. This template shows how you can quickly create polished instructional videos without needing a real instructor on camera.

Quizzes and interactive learning

‍For interactive learning, AI videos can guide learners through questions, choices, and feedback in a conversational way. An AI avatar adds pacing and presence, helping users feel guided through the experience rather than simply clicking through a form. This template is ideal for creating engaging quizzes, knowledge checks, and branching scenarios.

Product demos and tours

‍In AI-powered product demos, an on-screen presenter can act as a guide who walks viewers through features and workflows. The avatar provides context for what’s happening on screen and why it matters, helping you create clear, narrative-driven walkthroughs without recording yourself.

Sales and outreach

‍AI sales videos make outreach more personal by letting a presenter speak directly to the viewer. Instead of static slides or long emails, you can use an AI avatar to introduce your offer, explain value, and set the right tone for first-touch or follow-up communication at scale.

Corporate and business presentations

‍For company updates and presentations, AI talking head videos help structure information and keep attention. A virtual presenter can introduce topics, transition between sections, and emphasize key messages, making it easy to produce consistent, professional-looking internal or external communications.

Knowledge base and internal comms

‍AI videos are a great fit for knowledge base and internal communication content. An avatar can quickly set context, explain processes, and guide viewers through documentation, turning static information into clear, easy-to-follow video explanations.

Recruitment and HR

‍In recruitment and HR, AI video templates let you introduce your company, roles, and processes in a more human way. A virtual presenter helps candidates and employees understand who the message is from and what to expect, while keeping production fast and scalable for hiring, onboarding, and policy updates.

Step 4: Edit your video

Now it's time to edit your AI video. You can:

• Choose an AI avatar and adjust the script: Select an AI presenter and edit the on-screen script that drives the narration.
• Add scenes: Build your video by adding, duplicating, and reordering scenes.
• Add supporting visuals and B-roll: Upload or generate custom B-roll (background video) to make your video more engaging.
• Design the layout: Add and position text, images, screen recordings, shapes, and backgrounds.
• Change templates and branding: Use pre-built layouts, colors, fonts, and logos for consistency.
• Add interactivity: Insert buttons, quizzes, or branching paths for learner engagement.

Choose an AI avatar and adjust the script

I select an AI avatar and voice. Synthesia offers a wide range of avatars, languages, and accents.

Add screen recordings

Synthesia has a great AI screen recorder.

I often use this for software tutorials. I'll typically use a talking-head plus screen recording layout, with the avatar on one side and the screen on the other.

Add B-roll

B-roll helps break up long talking-head sections and keeps videos visually engaging.

In Synthesia, you can place clips between sections or layer them behind your avatar or voiceover. I use B-roll to show real-world examples, people performing tasks, or key visuals that support the narration.

You can generate clips with AI video models like Sora or Veo, upload your own footage, or use Synthesia’s built-in stock library.

Add interactivity

I love adding interactive elements like quizzes, branching scenarios, clickable buttons, and quizzes to make my AI videos more engaging. This helps viewers stay active instead of just watching passively.

For example, I like to include short knowledge checks after each section or give viewers options to explore different scenarios based on their role.

Step 6: Generate your video

Hit 'Generate' in the top right corner to generate your video. You can then download your training video as an MP4, get a shareable link, embed your video on a webpage, or download a SCORM version of your video and upload it to your LMS.

7. Publish and share your video

The final step is to publish and share my video.

Synthesia lets you export your video as an MP4 file, or you can publish it directly with Synthesia and embed the video wherever you like.

Common Synthesia use cases and quick wins

Here's how teams are using Synthesia AI videos to solve real challenges:

• Training and onboarding: consistent, multilingual modules with avatars; reuse templates to update fast
• Product demos: combine presenter + screen recordings; highlight key UI with shapes and text overlays
• Internal comms and announcements: rapid turnarounds; duplicate and version for each region
• Marketing explainers: 60–90 second flow (Hook → Benefits → Proof → CTA) with AI-generated b-roll and captions
• Repurposing: create 6–15 second cut-downs in 9:16 for social