5 Questions to Ask Before Using AI in Your Next Corporate Video
Before you say yes to AI in your corporate video, you need to ask the right questions.
Your company in Naperville, Schaumburg, or Chicago is under pressure to produce video content faster and cheaper. AI sounds like the answer.
But here is the problem: most marketing managers and corporate communications leaders do not know which questions to ask before committing to AI video production.
Ask the wrong questions (or skip this step entirely), and you risk wasted budget, brand inconsistency, and videos that create more problems than they solve.
Ask the right questions, and AI becomes a strategic tool that helps you produce clearer, faster, and more cost-effective corporate videos.
Here are the five questions you must ask your video production company before using AI in your next project.
Question 1: What specific problem does AI solve in this project?
The problem you face
You have been told AI will make your video better (or cheaper), but no one has explained exactly how.
Without a clear answer to this question, you are gambling with your production budget.
What to look for in the answer
Your production partner should identify a specific gap that AI fills.
Good answers sound like this:
"We need to show the inside of your equipment, and filming it would require a shutdown we cannot afford."
"You need visuals for a product that does not launch until next quarter, and we have no footage yet."
"The safety scenario is too dangerous to stage with real people."
Bad answers sound like this:
"AI is the future."
"Everyone is using it."
"It will look cool."
If your Oak Brook headquarters or Lisle facility requires video content that explains complex processes, AI might be the right tool- but only if it solves a defined problem.
Why this matters
AI works best as a solution to a specific challenge, not as a blanket upgrade to traditional video production.
Question 2: Where will AI be used, and where will traditional production be used?
The problem you face
Some companies treat AI as an all-or-nothing decision.
That is a mistake.
The best corporate videos combine AI-generated elements with traditional production where each approach makes sense.
What to look for in the answer
Your production company should give you a scene-by-scene breakdown.
For example:
"Scenes 1-3 will be filmed on location at your Elk Grove Village office with your team."
"Scene 4 will use AI to show a cutaway of your manufacturing process that we cannot safely film."
"Scenes 5-6 return to live action for the testimonial segment."
This hybrid approach is how businesses throughout the western suburbs get the best of both worlds.
Why this matters
AI should enhance your video, not replace professional production entirely. The right mix protects quality while capturing AI's benefits.
Question 3: How will you keep characters, environments, and brand elements consistent?
The problem you face
AI can create inconsistencies from scene to scene.
Characters change appearance. Environments shift. Brand colors drift.
If your video is for internal training, a product launch, or investor communications, inconsistency creates confusion and damages credibility.
What to look for in the answer
Your production partner should explain their process for locking in consistency, such as:
Style guides and reference images that stay fixed across all AI-generated scenes
A review process that catches inconsistencies before final assembly
Character and environment rules that get enforced at every stage
For companies in Naperville, Aurora or Joliet managing corporate brand standards, this process is non-negotiable.
Why this matters
Inconsistent video content reflects poorly on your brand and creates approvals chaos with stakeholders.
Question 4: What is your approval process, and when do I see the work?
The problem you face
Some production companies create AI content in a black box and show you the finished product at the end.
By then, it is too late to make meaningful changes without blowing your timeline and budget.
What to look for in the answer
Your production company should offer approvals at key milestones:
Storyboard approval – Before any production begins
Scene approval – After AI scenes are created but before final assembly
Final cut approval – Before delivery
This staged process has worked well for Chicago-area clients who need executive sign off before moving forward.
Why this matters
Approvals protect your timeline, your budget, and your peace of mind. You should never feel surprised by what you see.
Question 5: How do you handle voice, likeness, and permissions?
The problem you face
AI can clone voices and faces. That capability creates legal and ethical risks if misused.
You need to know your production partner's policies before you agree to work with them.
What to look for in the answer
Your production company should have clear rules:
No cloning of any person's voice or likeness without explicit written consent
No use of AI for satire, parody, or content that could damage reputations
A transparent process for documenting permissions
If your company operates in DeKalb, downtown Chicago, or anywhere in between, these protections matter for both your brand and your legal exposure.
Why this matters
Responsible use of AI protects your company from reputational and legal risk. You want a production partner who takes this seriously.
What happens when you ask these questions
When you ask these five questions, you will quickly learn whether your production partner:
Understands AI's real strengths and limits
Has a process that protects quality and approvals
Respects your brand and your timeline
You will also avoid the most common mistakes that lead to failed AI video projects.
The next step
If you are a business in Chicago, Naperville, Oak Brook, Elgin, Downers Grove, or anywhere in the Chicagoland area and are considering AI for your next corporate video, contact Acclaim Media before production begins.
We will walk through your project and help you determine:
Whether AI makes sense for your specific goals
Where AI should be used and where traditional production is better
A clear process with approvals at every step
One call. Zero hassle.
About Acclaim Media
Acclaim Media is a Chicago-based video production company helping brands nationwide create high-impact content—from marketing and corporate messaging to training and events. With 25+ years of experience and hundreds of successful projects, we make video production simple, strategic, and results-driven.
Acclaim Media is a Chicago-based video production company helping brands nationwide create high-impact content—from marketing and corporate messaging to training and events. With 25+ years of experience and hundreds of successful projects, we make video production simple, strategic, and results-driven.