Editing platform Tachi AI has ’emerged from stealth mode’ according to its developers, and has made plans for a public launch in 2026, aiming to bring major advances to one of the bedrock elements of the production process. The startup was founded by filmmakers, data scientists, and software engineers with the goal of streamlining repetitive tasks. The company’s “Smart Utility AI” workflows seeks to support rather than supplant creative professionals, the company emphasized. The startup is now in closed beta.

AI tools are gaining traction due to an influx of trillions of dollars of spending by major tech giants. However, the use remains fragile for Hollywood, as the industry faces additional challenges. While the technology has helped enhance visual effects and other below-the-line areas, it remains a thorny topic in negotiations between studios and streamers, as well as the top above-the-line guilds.

Tachi AI’s workflow ingests all project’s media and the corresponding script. It uses advanced AI to analyze raw footage and scripts to detect scenes, organize takes, classify and tag media, and structure timelines, compressing the timeframe of a working rough cut. The system’s scene-by-scene assembly cut includes three version generation of every scene based on the script and data analysis.

“Our mission is simple: automate the technical edit to elevate the creative story,” said Tachi CEO and co-founder, and longtime editor on various film and TV projects, Aden Bahadori.

“Thirteen years ago, I was in a dark studio backlot edit suite on a challenging film, wishing for a magical ‘AutoEdit’ button to get me through the assembly edit. Most of an editor’s time is consumed by laborious tasks like repeatedly reviewing footage, pulling selects, and assembling, which drains creative energy. We built Tachi AI to be that button – to handle the technical grunt work so that editors and directors can get to the heart of the story faster.”

Tachi AI COO, Brett Granstaff, said the company is “flipping” the usual equation of creatives prioritizing data management over creative choices. He also said, The true art of editing is in the creative choices.” He continued, “By providing a solid, structured starting point, we give that time back, fostering a more intuitive and fulfilling creative process for everyone from the editor to the director and producer.”