Instagram has launched a standalone desktop version of its video editing app for macOS, allowing creators to connect their preferred artificial intelligence agents to assemble videos. Matthew Simari, head of product management for Edits at Instagram, told The Verge in an interview that the software introduces a Model Context Protocol (MCP) for all tools within the desktop platform.
AI Integration and Workflow Flexibility
The mobile version of Edits debuted last year, prompting heavy requests from creators for a desktop counterpart, according to Simari. Plans to incorporate artificial intelligence also drove the expansion to macOS, following the September introduction of an AI creative assistant on mobile that provides video feedback and suggestions using account metrics like views and audience retention.
Users of the new desktop application can seamlessly transition between agentic and manual editing. Simari described a workflow where a creator instructs Meta’s Muse agent to utilize the Edits MCP to generate a rough cut from a downloads folder. The agent accesses the MCP, executes tool calls to produce the rough cut, and allows the user to open the resulting project file within Edits for further refinement.
Advanced Features and Platform Limitations
The migration to desktop coincides with Instagram’s broader push into widescreen, longform videos that benefit from a larger workspace. Meta is updating Edits to accommodate multiple aspect ratios alongside support for 4K exports without watermarks. The desktop software includes advanced capabilities such as a comprehensive multi-track timeline, precise audio waveforms, color grading tools, and importable keyboard shortcuts from alternative editors.
The desktop edition connects to Instagram’s audio library and enables direct publishing to the platform. Saved text styles and audio bookmarks from the mobile app will likewise synchronize across devices. The application is currently exclusive to macOS, lacking support for Windows or Linux, and cross-platform project synchronization between mobile and desktop is not yet available.
Meta reported that cross-platform editing capabilities are currently in development, with weekly updates planned for the new desktop application.
