Nearly 80% of ACE Editors Surveyed Are Using AI, New Report Finds: ‘You Adapt or Die’

A survey of American Cinema Editors members found that 77.5% of respondents use AI in post-production, mainly for routine tasks such as transcription, audio cleanup and finding footage. The results suggest editors are adopting the tools to reduce time spent on media management and searches, while keeping creative decisions in human hands.

Avid surveyed 120 of the organisation’s 1,200 members. On the TV show “MasterChef”, editor Molly Shock said an AI search tool found footage of contestants checking a clock in seconds, a task that could previously take hours; some days, she said, half a day’s work was cut to 15 minutes. Nearly all daily or weekly AI users said it should support a project’s creative vision, while 7.5% wanted it to assemble shots or rough cuts. Ethical, copyright and security concerns remained a barrier for nearly half of respondents.