Léa Moreau
Creating a professional-quality video used to take hours of filming, editing and a substantial budget. In 2026, thanks to artificial intelligence, you can generate a stunning video in less than 5 minutes, without a camera, without technical skills and often for free. Whether you are a content creator, entrepreneur or simply curious, this step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Choose the Right Tool
For a first AI video, we recommend Pika or Runway. Pika (pika.art) is ideal for beginners thanks to its ultra-intuitive interface and its free plan of 150 credits per month. Runway (runwayml.com) offers superior quality with 125 free credits. If you just want to test quickly, start with Pika. If you aim for a more cinematic result, go for Runway Gen-3. Create a free account on the platform of your choice — no credit card required.
Step 2: Write Your Prompt
The prompt is the text description of the video you want to generate. It is the most important step. Be precise and descriptive: instead of writing 'a cat', write 'a ginger cat walking on a stone wall at sunset, golden light, cinematic style'. Include details about the subject, action, setting, lighting and visual style. Prompts in English generally produce better results, even on platforms available in other languages.
Step 3: Configure the Settings
Before launching generation, adjust the key settings. Duration: start with 4 to 5 seconds (uses fewer credits and generates faster). Resolution: choose 720p for a quick test, 1080p for a final result. Ratio: 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 1:1 for Instagram. Style: some tools offer presets (cinematic, animation, photorealistic). Select the one that matches your vision.
Step 4: Generate and Iterate
Click 'Generate' and wait 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the tool and resolution. The first result won't always be perfect — that's normal. Watch the generated video carefully and identify what can be improved. Adjust your prompt by adding or modifying details, then relaunch generation. Tip: on Pika, you can use the 'image-to-video' feature by uploading a starting image for more control over the final result.
Step 5: Download and Share
Once satisfied with the result, download your video by clicking the download button. On Pika, the file is in MP4 format ready to use. On Runway, you can export in different resolutions. Your video is ready to be shared on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or integrated into a presentation. Remember to remove the watermark by upgrading to a paid plan if you use the video for professional purposes.
Tips for Better Results
- Write your prompts in English for better generation quality
- Describe desired camera movements (pan, slow zoom, tracking shot)
- Start with simple scenes with a single subject before attempting complex scenes
- Use style references: 'Wes Anderson style', 'neon cyberpunk lighting'
- Generate 3-4 variations of the same prompt and keep the best one
- Combine image-to-video with a visual created on Midjourney or DALL-E for maximum control
Conclusion
You just created your first AI video in less than 5 minutes. The key to success lies in the quality of your prompts and your ability to iterate quickly. The more you practice, the more impressive your results will be. Start with the free plans from Pika or Runway, experiment with different styles, and you'll be surprised by what AI can produce. Video creation has never been so accessible.