Instagram is rolling out "First Draft", a new Reels-editing tool that automatically trims longer video clips down to their most engaging moments, giving users a ready-made starting point they can then refine further. Announced on Tuesday and launching on the iPhone app, the feature aims to simplify the editing process for multi-clip reels by removing dead time and highlighting key sections, potentially making it easier for casual users to produce polished-looking content without manual trimming.

The tool works by analysing selected clips, each of which must be longer than a minute, before cutting them down and stitching them together into a single reel ready for further edits and sharing. Instagram says it is designed for formats such as multi-clip montages, talking-head videos and day-in-the-life content, and can be accessed either via a "First Draft" button in the camera app or from the Reels gallery after selecting multiple clips. The feature resembles Adobe's AI-driven Quick Cut tool, though Instagram has not confirmed whether First Draft itself uses artificial intelligence.