Instagram has confirmed that its new "First Draft" Reels-editing tool does not use AI, distinguishing it from similar AI-powered features such as Adobe's Quick Cut. The tool, announced on Tuesday and rolling out on the iPhone app, automatically trims longer video clips down to their most engaging moments, giving users a ready-made starting point they can refine further. This clarification matters because it positions First Draft as a more conventional editing shortcut rather than a generative AI feature, at a time when many competing tools lean heavily on AI-driven automation.

The tool works by analysing selected clips, each of which must be longer than a minute, before cutting them down to remove dead time and stitching the highlights 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 via a "First Draft" button in the camera app or from the Reels gallery after selecting multiple clips. An Instagram spokesperson, Nicole Rechtszaid, provided the confirmation that no AI is involved in the process.