Instagram's 'First Draft' feature automates Reels editing

The 'First Draft' feature is initially available on iPhones and can be accessed directly from the Instagram camera or the Reels gallery. While the concept of automated video editing is not entirely new, with similar tools found in applications like Adobe Firefly's Quick Cuts and CapCut's Auto Cut, integrating this functionality directly into Instagram reduces the need for creators to transfer footage to separate editing software.

This launch follows other recent creator tool introductions by Instagram, including a 'Replace Audio' function and ongoing tests of 'Series,' which allows creators to group Reels. Notably, the announcement of 'First Draft' coincides with the expected testimony of Instagram head Adam Mosseri in Meta's ongoing social media addiction trial, where the company faces allegations of designing its platforms to encourage compulsive use among children.