ChatGPT showed the world that AI could understand what we mean, not just what we say. And now that same intelligence is moving into the editing bay. We have seen a number of video production tools emerge over the past couple of years to make content creation easier. You can now easily reach for an AI video maker or AI video generator to create video animation or icon design, or use a video GPT to create AI avatars of yourself… The possibilities are endless and all available either built into the ChatGPT editor or as standalone apps, etc.

The emergence of these AI tools for videos had many editors wishing for tools just as convenient that could assist them in their everyday video editing workflows, too.

Fortunately, not only are tools for AI-generated content becoming more and more common, but AI co-editor agents that were previously only available as independent apps or as plugins in platforms like Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, etc, have now pivoted to playing the role of ChatGPT themselves. They now allow features such as chat-based editing that allow you to edit videos in the same way that you would use the ChatGPT chat interface, paving the way for the future of video AI. What is chat-based editing, you ask?

Chat-based editing is a new way of working with video. It is part of a broader shift in AI editing that we explore in our article on the future of AI video editing, which incorporates trends like vibe editing.

Instead of manually slicing footage on a timeline, you simply describe what you want in a chat interface like texting a friend, for example:

“Trim the silence."

“Make a viral short.”

“Cut out the first chapter.”

And the AI does it.

This shift is being led by tools like Cutback, for one, an AI video editor and Adobe Premiere Pro plugin that turns your conversation into an edit. It works as an AI co-editor and assistant that understands natural language and helps you trim, restructure, and build videos without dragging a single clip in your sequence.

So what is chat-based editing exactly, and why does it matter? Let’s take a look.

What is Chat-Based Editing?

Chat-based video editing is the process of editing videos using a chat interface, where the user gives natural language commands through text prompts to an AI that understands the content/context and performs the edit.

Think of it like having a co-editor who knows your footage, your voice, and your goals—and takes instructions easily through a message:

“Make a short from the part where I talk about pricing.”

“Make a version under 60 seconds.”

This kind of editing is powered by AI models that analyze transcripts, structure, timing, and even tone. Instead of learning new tools, you just describe what you want, and the text-to-video-editing tool will do the rest.

And yes, people ask: Can ChatGPT trim videos? Can ChatGPT do video editing?

The answer is: not directly. But tools like Cutback bring that same conversational magic into the editing space, with results that are both fast and surprisingly creative. They make it so much easier for you to personalize video content.

For example, Cutback’s Auto Rough Cut feature, which recently evolved into a chat-based editor with prompt presets, shows what’s possible when you blend AI automation with intuitive user control. The chat experience gives you flexibility, while the presets give you speed.

Why Chat-Based Editing is Different From Traditional Editing

From Timelines to Chat

Classic editing tools rely on timelines, tracks, markers, and layers. It's powerful, but overwhelming for new users and time-consuming for busy editors with deadlines and not enough hours in a day.

Chat-based editing removes that barrier. You get your transcript automatically, and then you:

• Select a prompt preset or type your instructions in a chat window

• Let the AI make the changes

• Make your adjustments to the AI’s suggestions

• Save or discard the changes

• Apply the co-edited edit to your sequence/timeline

No dragging clips. No matching waveforms. No scrubbing 45 minutes to find that one moment you need to cut.

It Meets You at Your Level

Whether you're a YouTuber, podcaster, or educator, chat-based video editing helps you get your ideas into a polished form without having to master Premiere Pro. No more worrying about how to create compound clips or juggling video scripts, and it’s all thanks to the power of prompt engineering.

For professionals, it acts as an intelligent assistant that clears out the rough cut and gives you more time to polish.

This conversational interface also lays the foundation for vibe editing—an emerging approach where AI understands not just what was said, but how it was said. It takes into account pacing, energy, silence, and emotional tone to help shape your content beyond cuts.

What Can Chat-Based Editors Like Cutback Do?

The real strength of chat-based editing isn’t just automation—it’s contextual understanding.

Here are just a few things you can do with AI prompts in a tool like Cutback:

✅ Remove silences and filler words

Just type "remove silences" or "delete filler words like 'um' and 'uh'."

✅ Create short-form videos from long content

Tell the AI: "Make a 45-second short of the funniest part" or "Make a vertical version of the best answer."

✅ Match your edit to your video scripts

Paste your script and ask Cutback to "edit to match the script" or "cut out anything that isn't in the script.”

✅ Add AI-generated subtitles

Because Cutback is transcript-based, captions are generated automatically and are editable in real time after you’re happy with your edit.

These features are just the beginning. The beauty of a chat-based UI is that it invites experimentation. You don’t need to know exactly what tool to click; you just ask.

The Role of Cutback: Your AI Co-Editor in Premiere Pro

The beauty of the Cutback plugin is that it is developed to exist inside Premiere Pro, allowing you to move seamlessly between traditional timeline editing and AI-powered workflows. It’s the best of both worlds.

This is crucial for creators who want control and speed. You don’t have to give up your favorite plugins, LUTs, or markers. You simply use Cutback to do the heavy lifting:

• Rough cut editing

• Silence detection

• Speaker-aware multicam rough cuts

• Captions synced to dialogue

Then you take it from there and add the creative magic in the rest of the Premiere Pro interface.

And because everything happens in a chat UI that’s been purpose-built for video editors, the learning curve is minimal. If you know how to describe your edits, you know how to use Cutback.

Why This Matters in 2025 and Beyond

Video content is exploding, from podcasts and interviews to course material and internal comms. Everyone is editing, but not everyone wants to be an editor.

Chat-based editing gives creators, teams, and businesses a way to produce professional content without the technical weight.

More importantly, it introduces a new kind of interaction: one where editing becomes collaborative and creative, not just mechanical. We call this co-editing—where AI helps shape your video with you, rather than for you.

This is also why we’ve started building toward vibe editing, a concept where the AI helps you shape the tone, rhythm, and energy of your content, not just the structure. Want to learn more? Check out our breakdown of vibe editing and the co-editor trend here.

Final Thoughts: The Chat Interface Is the New Timeline

We’re not saying timelines are dead.

But we are saying that they don’t need to be the first thing you touch when you open your editing software. Sometimes, all you want to do is:

“Remove the dead air.”

“Remove the repeated parts where I messed up my lines.”

And now you can.

With Cutback’s chat interface and AI co-editing engine, you don’t just get a faster edit. You get a workflow that listens.

Curious to try it? Start with our Auto Rough Cut guide and see how editing with AI actually feels. Think of it as chatting with your very own video editing assistant.

You already know how to talk. Now you know how to edit that way, too.

For more in-depth knowledge about the ins and outs of video editing, check out our latest posts on the Cutback blog or our YouTube channel. You can also join Cutback’s Discord community of like-minded video editors.