Generative Video for Business in 2026: What Actually Works in Client Projects
AI video generators are finally good enough for parts of paid client work — b-roll fill, previz, and some product shots. Here's what holds up, what breaks, what the real tools cost in 2026, and how to handle disclosure with clients.
Two years ago, generative video was a demo reel trick. In 2026 it's a line item. We now use AI-generated footage inside real client deliverables at our Dallas studio — but only in specific, narrow slots, and always with the client's sign-off. The gap between the marketing hype and what survives a client review is still wide, and this post is an honest map of it.
If you're a brand or agency evaluating generative video for business use, the short version is this: it works as a supplement to shot footage, not a replacement for it. The models are astonishing for eight seconds at a time. Client work is rarely eight seconds long.