Top AI Apps I’m Teaching in My Media Arts Classes in 2025
Empowering Creativity in the Classroom: The Top AI Tools Transforming Media Arts Education in 2025
In the ever-evolving world of media arts, AI tools are transforming the creative process, making workflows faster, smarter, and more innovative. This year, I’m introducing my media arts students to an exciting lineup of AI-powered apps that will revolutionize the way they create. Here’s a look at the top AI apps I’ll be teaching and why they’re essential for the modern media artist:
1. Adobe Firefly
• What It Does: Adobe Firefly is a generative AI tool that empowers students to create stunning visuals, custom text effects, and more—all by typing in prompts.
• Why It’s Great: Perfect for generating storyboards, mood boards, and concept art. It’s an intuitive way for students to turn ideas into polished visuals with minimal learning curve.
• Classroom Application: Students will use Firefly for brainstorming and creating assets for their video projects, like titles and backgrounds.
2. ChatGPT
• What It Does: ChatGPT is an AI assistant that helps students brainstorm ideas, draft scripts, refine storylines, and even research topics.
• Why It’s Great: It breaks down creative barriers and simplifies the writing process, enabling students to focus on storytelling.
• Classroom Application: Students will use it to generate film scripts, project outlines, and even ethical discussions about AI’s role in media.
3. Suno AI
• What It Does: Suno AI creates AI-generated music and soundscapes tailored to projects, offering a royalty-free solution for original audio.
• Why It’s Great: Students can produce customized soundtracks for their projects without needing to compose music themselves.
• Classroom Application: Perfect for adding emotional depth and atmosphere to short films or trailers.
4. Runway
• What It Does: Runway is a powerful AI video editor that simplifies complex editing tasks like rotoscoping, masking, and more.
• Why It’s Great: It gives students access to high-end video effects with just a few clicks, saving hours of manual work.
• Classroom Application: Students will explore its features to enhance their films with creative transitions, visual effects, and AI-powered scene generation.
5. Gamma
• What It Does: Gamma is an AI presentation builder that transforms ideas into professional-looking slide decks in seconds.
• Why It’s Great: Ideal for teaching students how to pitch ideas or present their projects effectively.
• Classroom Application: Students will use Gamma to create pitch decks for their films and media projects.
6. Adobe Premiere Pro (Generative AI Tools)
• What It Does: Premiere Pro now features generative AI tools for audio clean-up, video enhancements, and even scene assembly.
• Why It’s Great: It automates time-consuming post-production tasks, allowing students to focus on storytelling and creativity.
• Classroom Application: Students will use AI tools for color grading, sound editing, and creating seamless transitions in their films.
7. Lovable.dev
• What It Does: Lovable.dev enables students to code games, websites, and other creative projects—without needing to know how to code.
• Why It’s Great: It democratizes the coding process, allowing anyone to turn their ideas into reality with minimal technical knowledge.
• Classroom Application: Students will use Lovable.dev to create interactive media experiences, such as simple games or portfolio websites.
8. Notebook LM
• What It Does: Notebook LM is an AI-powered research assistant that organizes and analyzes notes. It can also transform written text into podcasts for audio-based learning and storytelling.
• Why It’s Great: It’s perfect for managing research-heavy projects, enabling students to track sources and find connections between ideas. The podcast feature adds another layer of creativity, allowing students to present their work in engaging audio formats.
• Classroom Application: Students will use it for organizing research and creating podcasts to complement their documentaries or video essays.
9. Descript
• What It Does: Descript is an all-in-one video and audio editing tool that uses AI to edit by text, removing “ums,” “ahs,” and other filler words.
• Why It’s Great: Simplifies video editing for beginners while offering advanced features for seasoned creators.
• Classroom Application: Students will edit podcasts, interviews, or voiceovers, focusing on storytelling and polishing their content.
10. Canva
• What It Does: Canva is a design tool that integrates AI to create graphics, presentations, and videos.
• Why It’s Great: It’s easy to use, making it a great entry point for students to explore graphic design and visual storytelling.
• Classroom Application: Students will create thumbnails, social media graphics, and even marketing materials for their media projects.
Why These Tools Matter
By teaching these AI apps, I aim to prepare students for the future of media creation. These tools are not just about efficiency—they’re about enabling creativity, fostering innovation, and equipping students with skills they’ll use in college and beyond.
Are you incorporating AI into your classroom? I’d love to hear about the tools you’re using and how they’re transforming your teaching!
Stay tuned for detailed tutorials on these tools on my YouTube channel, and social media platforms. Together, we can bring AI into education and unlock endless possibilities for our students.