[Video] Is it a good idea to use AI b-roll?

AI b-rolls for short-form (and longer) videos are now a thing. Tools like Opus or Submagic can add a b-roll in seconds with the click of a button.

But should we use AI b-roll? Let’s look into the topic, including:

• What is b-roll?
• The emergence of AI-generated footage
• How to get b-roll footage
• B-roll footage example
• When to use AI b-roll and when not to

What is b-roll?

In a nutshell, b-roll is usually “quiet” video footage that runs over somebody talking. For example, in a video interview, the video would start with the speaker, and then, depending on what the person talks about, the footage could be overlaid with something that is slightly related to the topic that’s being discussed.

In my video copywriter and producer days, I would actually script out what dialogue I needed and do the same for b-roll video. Then I would have the talent act out the scene I need for this purpose. During the editing process, it was all edited together.

The emergence of AI-generated footage

And now software companies are rolling out AI footage that is automatically created and added to videos.

Here’s an example from my DesignRush podcast appearance that I created with Opus.

So in this video, it stays on me talking and then cuts away to this footage at somewhat appropriate times:

• When I say, “telling business stories is way cheaper than just running ads,” it cuts to a person sitting in the crowd at a conference.
• “you have good content on your website and it ranks” cuts to two people in a room with a website on the projector behind them.
• “there’s podcast episodes” cuts to three people in a recording studio.
• “storytelling is so important” cuts to people smiling.

In Opus, to add AI b-roll simply click on the corresponding button on the right of videos, and then let it add clips.

Then, review and follow the options that you want to try.

In this example, Opus added four clips and you can see the placement on the timeline.

Here’s what Opus says about the process:

Our AI automatically adds contextually relevant B-Roll to your clips. To add AI B-Roll:

• 1. Go to the timeline and locate “Generate AI B-Roll”
• 2. Select what type of B-Roll you want
• 3. Toggle it on, and our Al will automatically add Al B-Roll to your video Need more B-Roll? Select sentences from the text and click “Add AI B-Roll” to generate more.

How to get b-roll footage

There are several ways to get this footage:

• Record it yourself. (Like I did back in the video producer days). Make sure to get enough and let the camera run for longer than you think you need. A selfie stick might help. Also, different angles and a good mix of close and wider shots are great. (Tools like Veed allow you to upload those and create shorter footage.)
• Use tools like Opus and Submagic to add the footage based on what’s available and what’s being said.
• Order b-roll footage from sites like Motion Array.

B-roll footage example

Kellen Reck shares some great examples of how to film this backup footage in this video:

When to use AI b-roll and when not to

Using b-roll is a great practice to make videos more interactive, but I would say my decade-old advice on using generic blog stock images applies here too:

Prioritize unique and relevant B-roll footage that genuinely enhances your story rather than using overused stock video clips that your competitors might also feature.

While stock footage can work as supplementary material, it’s more effective to film original B-roll that specifically illustrates your narrative, captures authentic behind-the-scenes moments, or demonstrates your concepts in action. Consider the time investment when gathering B-roll – if you can’t capture meaningful footage that adds value to your video, it might be better to focus on other engaging shot types rather than using generic B-roll that fails to advance your story.