New Premiere Pro AI Search Feature – Find Footage Fast

Kyler Holland
3 days ago
3 min read

What If You Could Describe Your Perfect Shot—And Premiere Found It?

That’s exactly what Adobe just made possible. Premiere Pro’s new AI-powered search feature uses media intelligence analysis to scan your footage, allowing you to search your project like it’s Google. No more digging through bins—just type what you're looking for: “dirt bike,” “close-up eye,” “dancing on sand,” and watch Premiere pull up the perfect clips.

If you're a video editor who’s constantly jumping between timelines, dealing with hours of raw footage, or looking for a more intuitive workflow, this update will change the way you edit.

🔍 What Is Premiere Pro's AI Search Feature?

Premiere Pro has introduced a Media Intelligence Analysis tool that automatically analyzes your clips for visual elements and spoken words. It enables intelligent search functionality so you can:

Search for specific visuals like “backlit portrait” or “fire.”
Filter results by text transcription (spoken words).
Drag and drop clips directly into your timeline.
Save custom workspaces with the Search Panel docked where you like it.

Tip: This feature works best when “Visual Analysis” and “Transcription” are enabled in your preferences.

🛠️ How To Enable AI Search in Premiere Pro

To get started:

Go to Edit > Preferences > Media Analysis and Transcription.
Check “Enable Visual Analysis” and “Automatically Transcribe Clips.”
Choose “All Imported Clips” for best coverage.

Now, every time you import footage, Premiere will start analyzing both the visuals and the audio.

🧠 How to Use the New Search Panel Like a Pro

🚀 Launching the Search Panel

Click the Search Panel button at the top right of your screen. You can dock it wherever you like—perfect for customizing your workspace.

🔎 Searching Visual Elements

Want a clip of a burnout or a waterfall? Just type it in. Premiere’s AI scans visual metadata and instantly pulls up matches—even if your files are unlabeled or raw.

Examples you can try:

“close-up tire burnout”
“dancing”
“backlit silhouette”
“fireworks”

You can scrub through results and drag in just what you need—or string together a highlight reel instantly.

💬 Searching by Spoken Word

Once transcription is enabled, you can search for any word that was spoken in your clips. For example:

Search “YouTube” and see every instance it was said in interviews or podcasts.
Type a friend’s name (like “Grant”) and find every clip where it was mentioned.

This is especially powerful for text-based editing, pulling up interviews or key moments without manual scrubbing.

🧩 Source vs. Sequence: What’s the Difference?

When using the search panel, you can filter by:

Source: Raw footage in your Project window.
Sequence: Already edited timelines or multi-cam sequences.

⚠️ If you're dragging in sequences, uncheck “Insert and overwrite sequences as nests or individual clips” to retain multi-cam functionality.

Why This AI Search Tool Matters for Editors

Whether you’re editing:

A multi-cam interview project
A fast-cut hype reel
A long-form YouTube video

This feature helps you:

✅ Save hours digging through footage✅ Discover new and creative clips you might’ve overlooked✅ Build highlight reels faster✅ Improve storytelling by locating the perfect visual or quote

🎁 Want Faster Editing? Try Our Tools

If you're loving this workflow hack, you'll love the Ultimate Effects Pack for Premiere Pro or the Seamless Subtitles Preset Pack. These tools help you save even more time, add professional polish, and keep your edits clean and efficient.

✅ Final Thoughts + Call to Action

Premiere Pro’s new AI search feature is a major step forward for editors who value speed, precision, and creative freedom. Stop scrubbing through clips and start describing your ideas—and let Adobe do the heavy lifting.

💡 Ready to level up your editing workflow? Explore my editing tools or subscribe on YouTube for more time-saving tips!