Plan Z: AI Tutorial Video

Course outline → script → screen capture / images → AI narration → captions

Time
2-4 hours / episode
Cost
Low
Difficulty
Beginner

Best for

For software tutorials or online course videos, using AI to produce teaching content at low cost and in volume.

Steps

Course outline

20-30 min

ChatGPT

Define the target students and learning outcomes, then have the model build a modular outline where each module delivers something concrete, ordered by dependency, with 5-10 minute episodes.

💡Put 'what you'll be able to do' into the outline titles — perceived value jumps instantly.

Script

1 hour

ChatGPT

Write the lesson in conversational language: one idea per sentence, steps framed as 'first… then…', with a note on what to show on screen and where to pause for each step.

💡Add pause markers in the script so the narration lines up with the screen recording later.

Screen capture / images

1-2 hours

Screen recorder + AI images

Record the actual screen while you operate the software, and generate consistent-styled diagrams for concepts; match each step to a script section and re-record anything that's off right away.

💡Write the operation checklist before recording and finish in one take to avoid fumbling.

AI narration

30-45 min

ElevenLabs

Turn the script into clear, natural AI narration at a slightly slower teaching pace; preview how technical terms are pronounced before committing to the full read.

💡Listen to a 30-second sample first — discovering a mispronounced term at the end means regenerating everything.

Captions & export

30-45 min

CapCut / Descript

Auto-generate subtitles, proofread them, and export multiple formats — mp4 for course platforms plus vertical cuts for short video — with chapter markers and exercises.

💡End each episode with a next-episode teaser and a practice task to raise series completion.

Tools involved

ChatGPTGammaDescriptElevenLabs剪映 CapCut

Pitfalls to avoid

Episodes too long

Completion craters past 15 minutes; split into 5-10 minute episodes.

Script reads like a textbook

Conversational writing with transitions beats reading aloud.

Cuts too fast

Fast screen edits lose students; slow down key steps or highlight them.

No version labeling

Software UI changes fast — put the version and date in the title to cut support questions.

Related Workflows

Plan A: Voiceover / Explainers

Write script → TTS voice → visuals → edit in CapCut → publish

Time：
15-40 min / video
Cost：
Low
Difficulty：
Beginner

Plan B: Text-to-Video Storyboards (Pro)

3-layer planning → prompt engineering → consistency assets → animatic preview → shot generation → sound design → spec-driven assembly + QC gates

Time：
2-4 hours / video
Cost：
Medium-High
Difficulty：
Advanced

Plan C: AI Avatar Presenters

Pick a tool → prepare the avatar → write the script → one-click generation → post-process & publish

Time：
~20 min / video
Cost：
~$2 / video
Difficulty：
Beginner