Introduction
A few months ago, we embarked on an exciting challenge to create a captivating video using only AI tools. We wanted to see if it was possible to develop materials for education using only free AI tools. We aimed to produce a video based on the latest chapter in IGCSE Physics, Chapter 6: Space Physics, as a review for our new online course. The unique aspect of this challenge was that all the content, including the script, visuals, and narration, had to be generated solely through AI technologies, which meant no use of stock videos or photos! (We did not use text-to-video-based AI like Pika as it was unavailable then. It is truly becoming challenging to keep up with progress!). In this blog post, we will take you through the step-by-step process we followed and showcase the results we achieved. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Crafting an AI-generated script with chatbots
To kick off our project, we opted to use Copilot (previously known as BING), an AI-powered chatbot. We chose Copilot because it can analyze documents, including our notes. We furnished Copilot with our notes for CIE IGCSE Chapter 6: Space Physics as a reference point. The video below provides a detailed tutorial on importing files or documents into Copilot.
Our task was to generate a script that would effectively cover the content for that chapter. By leveraging Copilot's advanced language capabilities and document analysis, we obtained an intelligently generated script that served as the foundation for our video.
What used to take hours, if not days, to do, Copilot generated the entire script in under a minute! Best of all, it is free! Of course, the tool is imperfect, and we recommend that educators or teachers read through the script first, as generative AI has been known to hallucinate!
We prompted BING to generate a script based on our notes for Chapter 6. The prompt we used was
[Hi, please generate a 7-minute video script for this document here. Kindly include pauses for the narrator.]
You could probably do a better prompt, but this gave us a good starting point!
Step 2: Enriching the narration with text-to-speech software
We took the script generated in the previous step and transformed it into a captivating narration. While many speech synthesizers are available, we used Eleven Labs' text-to-speech software because of its natural-sounding voice. By leveraging the software's powerful capabilities, we inputted the script and let the AI-generated voice bring it to life. This step ensured that our video had a coherent and professional-sounding narration, ultimately enhancing the viewing experience.
To be more specific, we copied and pasted the script into Eleven Labs and selected Antoni as the narration voice for the video. We adjusted the stability setting to ensure that Antoni's voice sounded natural while reading the script.
Step 3: Generating stock images for education using AI tools
To complement the script visually, we called upon the creative abilities of Copilot once again. Copilot is an impressive AI tool for education that we've quickly grown to depend on. We utilized its image generation capabilities to produce a series of stock images tailored to the content covered in Chapter 6: Space Physics. These AI-generated images provide a distinctive interpretation of the concepts discussed in the chapter, adding depth and clarity to our video.
We used the prompt.
[Please generate a realistic-looking picture of Saturn]
Shown below is an example of one of the images generated. Copilot generated several images using DALL.E 3, and we picked the best.
Step 4: Choosing suitable background music:
The next step involves carefully selecting a suitable background music track to evoke the desired ambiance and captivate our viewers. We must also consider the video's tone, tempo, and mood to ensure that the music seamlessly complements the content and enhances the viewing experience. It's a genuinely challenging feat...
In truth, we skipped all that thought process and just used Copilot (again), our favorite AI tool for education :P We used the prompt:
[Can you please suggest the title of free background music for our video]
Of all Copilot's suggestions, we decided to go with Ambient Nature Music Nature by Alex-Productions. We downloaded it from Chosic Music. Chosic Music has a repertoire of free stock music available to download. Just make sure to give proper credit!
Note: While we would have loved to use AI-generated music, there was no reliable generator months ago. Hence, we cheated and used free stock music instead :D
Step 5: Seamless editing and compilation
By utilizing Camtasia, an expert video editing software, we were able to seamlessly combine the narration, AI-generated stock images, and background music to produce a final product that was both coherent and engaging. To achieve this, it was necessary to carefully organize and synchronize all elements to create a visually pleasing and captivating video that effectively explained the intriguing concepts of Space Physics. Although this step was the most time-consuming and tedious one, it should be a familiar process for those with experience in video editing. Let's dive in!
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We began by importing all the sound files we downloaded from Eleven Labs. Then, we imported all the generated images from Copilot, and finally, we added the music soundtrack, "Ambient Nature Music Nature" by Alex-Productions.
After that, we arranged the images in a way that they synchronized with the narration. For instance, when the narration mentioned Saturn, we made sure that the image shown was of the same planet and not some other planet. Following the script, we also included pauses at different intervals to make the narration sound even more natural.
The music track was slightly longer than the narration, but it was alright as we gradually allowed the video to fade out towards the end. We could have spaced out the narration further, but that would have made the video more dreary.
Conclusion
Our team had an exhilarating experience in the AI Video Challenge, discovering the vast potential of AI tools for education. We utilized chatbots, text-to-speech software, and image generation capabilities to create an engaging and informative video on IGCSE Physics Chapter 6: Space Physics. We would love for you to watch the results below. Our students were unable to discern whether the narrator was human or not. Although the video has its limitations due to the constraints of the challenge, it provides a glimpse of the incredible potential of AI technologies in content creation. We encourage you to join us in embracing the future of storytelling, where AI technologies open up new avenues of creativity and expression. Sign up for our newsletter. Stay informed, stay inspired—subscribe today!