I turned a PDF into a video in under 5 minutes — here’s the AI tool that made it happen

I turned a newsletter into a video in under 10 minutes using Argil. Here's how this AI tool helps creators repurpose content with ease.

Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Prime Day Deals LIVE Prime Day TV Deals Walmart Deals Prime Day Laptop Deals Switch 2 Restock Best laptops Wordle Today Best Mattress Recommended reading This AI video generator is going viral, and it's completely free to use Midjourney's video generator is behind the competition — here's why I love it anyway This $12.99/month hack gives you access to Google’s Veo 3 AI video tool — here’s how You can now use Google's AI to make videos from text — and I'm already obsessed I tried the new viral AI tool that turns your photos into blockbuster movie clips — here's how to do it AI Image & Video These 5 prompt upgrades took my AI videos from basic to cinematic AI Image & Video Google’s $249/month AI video tool is incredible — but this one feature left me frustrated AI Image & Video I turned a PDF into a video in under 5 minutes — here’s the AI tool that made it happen Amanda Caswell 10 July 2025 Turn your text to expert-level videos in minutes When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future) I've spent hundreds of hours testing AI video generation tools. All of them have specific stand out features and different uses. Most recently, I used Argil, the AI video generation tool that can take any text, PDF or link and turn it into a video in about five minutes. It's useful for anyone who wants to create multiple types of creative assets. So if you've ever wished your written stories could reach people beyond the written word, this tool is probably for you. Here's what happened when I turned this week's Tom's Guide AI newsletter into a video. What is Argil? Argil is an AI-powered tool that turns written content into short, engaging videos in just a few clicks. You may like This AI video generator is going viral, and it's completely free to use Midjourney's video generator is behind the competition — here's why I love it anyway This $12.99/month hack gives you access to Google’s Veo 3 AI video tool — here’s how Although this tool is $39/month for the classic tier and $149/month for the pro tier, users can try it for free. Althought those tokens go really fast, so you'll probably get more like a few hours than a full week's worth to try the tool. Fairly intuitive, you simply upload your content or paste a link, and Argil uses generative AI to identify key points, summarize them visually and match them with relevant stock footage, animations or avatars. You can customize the tone, pacing and style, then export the result in vertical or horizontal formats for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts or LinkedIn. It's a game-changer for creators and casual users who want to repurpose content without spending hours editing video. You upload a document or paste in your article, choose your style and format, and Argil handles: Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Script generation Voiceover narration Matching B-roll and animations Optional subtitles and custom branding How to try it (Image credit: Future) We all know attention spans are shorter than ever. Some people don’t want to scroll through a 1,200-word piece, even if it’s packed with useful info. Video offers another way to deliver the same value, especially on platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok. Argil cuts the work down to just minutes. For my test, I uploaded a PDF of this week's AI newsletter. It is first-person, structured and had a clear narrative — ideal for visual storytelling. Once uploaded, I selected a professional, energetic tone with dynamic transitions and subtitles. The AI automatically trimmed the content and suggested visuals to match. Within minutes, I had a 90-second video ready to go — no editing software required. What worked (and what didn’t) (Image credit: Future) I'll start with the issues I had first. There weren't a lot, but they were enough to give users a heads up. First, there is an option to use yourself as an avatar. However, the process was not as easy as what I've experienced with Synthesia. Unlike Synthesia, a video made with my iPhone and uploaded was not the correct format. I tried several times until I finally uploaded the video to ChatGPT and asked it to format my video for Argil. That felt like a step that could have been avoided since most people are probably making videos and uploading them from their phone. Second, if you decide to choose a different avatar once your video has been previewed, you have to manually go frame by frame to change the avatar. This was another time suck that I would have rather avoided. The tool also blurs out the face of the avatar during the preview stage, which is annoying. But where Argil impressed me, is how easy the tool was to use. It also kept the core message of my text intact while trimming away unnecessary fluff. I especially appreciated the ability to export in multiple formats; portrait for Instagram Reels and landscape for YouTube, which made it easy to repurpose the video across platforms. That said, not everything was perfect. Some scene transitions felt a bit generic, the tone and voice felt robotic and the body movements were extremely repetitive. Occasionally the AI missed subtle nuances or tone, requiring a few manual edits on my part if I had the opportunity (and tonkens!) to go back and edit. Still, for something that took less than 10 minutes to produce, the final result was more than impressive. Final thoughts If you're a content creator looking to transform blog posts into video, a marketer aiming to boost SEO and reach on social media or a writer building a visual portfolio, Argil is a no-brainer. It’s a fast, simple way to give your existing work new life. While it may not be flawless, it’s absolutely good enough to start using today, especially if you want your work to show up in more places with less effort. More from Tom's Guide Forget ChatGPT — 4 reasons why you should try this chatbot you've (probably) never heard of I cleaned out 100+ email lists with Gmail’s new unsubscribe tool — here’s how you can too 5 hidden ChatGPT tricks most people don’t use — but they’re actually game changers Back to Laptops AMD Ryzen 7 Intel Core i3 Intel Core i5 Intel Core i7 Storage Size Screen Size Refurbished Screen Type Storage Type Showing 10 of 140 deals Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (256GB Blue) $849Preorder Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (15-inch 1TB) $1,599View Dell XPS 13 (2016) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) (512GB OLED) $858.11View Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i ChromeBook Plus (14-inch 2TB) $499.99View Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) (14-inch 1TB) $1,799.99View Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (16GB RAM SSD) $1,035View Dell XPS 13 Plus (13.4-inch) $1,049.99View Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) $979.99View Amanda Caswell Social Links Navigation Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media. Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together. Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a bestselling author of science fiction books for young readers, where she channels her passion for storytelling into inspiring the next generation. A long-distance runner and mom of three, Amanda’s writing reflects her authenticity, natural curiosity, and heartfelt connection to everyday life — making her not just a journalist, but a trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology. 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This AI video generator is going viral, and it's completely free to use Midjourney's video generator is behind the competition — here's why I love it anyway This $12.99/month hack gives you access to Google’s Veo 3 AI video tool — here’s how You can now use Google's AI to make videos from text — and I'm already obsessed I tried the new viral AI tool that turns your photos into blockbuster movie clips — here's how to do it These 5 prompt upgrades took my AI videos from basic to cinematic Latest in AI Image & Video These 5 prompt upgrades took my AI videos from basic to cinematic Adobe Firefly just launched on mobile — here’s what creators can do with it Google’s $249/month AI video tool is incredible — but this one feature left me frustrated Pika’s new AI video feature is already blowing minds — here's how to add twist endings to your favorite videos Forget ChatGPT— this site offers mind-blowing AI image generation for free I just ‘met my younger self for coffee’ with mind-blowing AI video — now this is creepy Latest in Features Garden expert shares how your pee can give your plants a boost — here's how I tried the five most popular ChatGPT prompts of all time — these were the best ones Google search results feel worse lately? 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