The Devil is in the Prompts: Retrieval-Augmented Prompt Optimization for Text-to-Video Generation
On the map: Retrieval-augmented generation → Generation and context integration
Abstract (arXiv)
The evolution of Text-to-video (T2V) generative models, trained on large-scale datasets, has been marked by significant progress. However, the sensitivity of T2V generative models to input prompts highlights the critical role of prompt design in influencing generative outcomes. Prior research has predominantly relied on Large Language Models (LLMs) to align user-provided prompts with the distribution of training prompts, albeit without tailored guidance encompassing prompt vocabulary and sentence structure nuances. To this end, we introduce RAPO, a novel Retrieval-Augmented Prompt Optimization framework. In order to address potential inaccuracies and ambiguous details generated by LLM-generated prompts. RAPO refines the naive prompts through dual optimization branches, selecting the superior prompt for T2V generation. The first branch augments user prompts with diverse modifiers extracted from a learned relational graph, refining them to align with the format of training prompts via a fine-tuned LLM. Conversely, the second branch rewrites the naive prompt using a pre-trained LLM following a well-defined instruction set. Extensive experiments demonstrate that RAPO can effectively enhance both the static and dynamic dimensions of generated videos, demonstrating the significance of prompt optimization for user-provided prompts.
Key facts. Cited by 21 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Generation and context integration, one of 15 directions in Retrieval-augmented generation. Builds on 47 of its 52 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 16 Apr 2025.
Builds on
47 of 52 references.
References · 47
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Citing papers per year: 2025: 6; 2026: 15.
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- 2025VISTA: A Test-Time Self-Improving Video Generation Agentcited by 31
- 2025RAPO++: Cross-Stage Prompt Optimization for Text-to-Video Generation via Data Alignment and Test-Time Scalingcited by 10
- 2025Multimodal Prompt Optimization: Why Not Leverage Multiple Modalities for MLLMscited by 7
- 2025Causally Steered Diffusion for Automated Video Counterfactual Generationcited by 6
- 2026SCMAPR: Self-Correcting Multi-Agent Prompt Refinement for Complex-Scenario Text-to-Video Generationcited by 4
- 2026Premier: Personalized Preference Modulation with Learnable User Embedding in Text-to-Image Generationcited by 3
- 2026Breaking Dual Bottlenecks: Evolving Unified Multimodal Models into Self-Adaptive Interleaved Visual Reasonerscited by 3
- 2026CAPE-T2V: Captioner-Anchored Prompt Enhancement toward Two-Sided Conditioning Alignment in Text-to-Video Generationcited by 3
- 2026Guiding Diffusion-based Reconstruction with Contrastive Signals for Balanced Visual Representationcited by 2
- 2025V.I.P. : Iterative Online Preference Distillation for Efficient Video Diffusion Modelscited by 1
- 2026Beyond Trial-and-Error: Agentic Optimization for Image-to-Video Adherencecited by 1
- 2026WanPE: Towards Cinematic Prompt Enhancement for Modern Text-to-Video Generationcited by 1
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- 2026TextBFGS: A Case-Based Reasoning Approach to Code Optimization via Error-Operator Retrievalcited by 0
- 2026Retrieval, Refinement, and Ranking for Text-to-Video Generation via Prompt Optimization and Test-Time Scalingcited by 0
- 2026P-Flow: Prompting Visual Effects Generationcited by 0
- 2026When Numbers Speak: Aligning Textual Numerals and Visual Instances in Text-to-Video Diffusion Modelscited by 0
- 2026Jailbreaking Multimodal Large Language Models using Multi-Clip Videocited by 0
- 2026PermaVid: Consistent Video Generation Across Edits via Disentangled Context Memorycited by 0
- 2026From Evaluation to Enhancement: Benchmarking and Improving Think-with-Video Reasoning for Video Generative Modelscited by 0
- 2026SkillPE: Creativity-Oriented Cinematic Skill Evolution for Text-to-Video Prompt Engineeringcited by 0
- 2026SkillPE: Creativity-Oriented Cinematic Skill Evolution for Text-to-Video Prompt Engineering28 Sep 2026
- 2026WanPE: Towards Cinematic Prompt Enhancement for Modern Text-to-Video Generation24 Sep 2026
- 2026From Evaluation to Enhancement: Benchmarking and Improving Think-with-Video Reasoning for Video Generative Models10 Sep 2026
- 2026Beyond Trial-and-Error: Agentic Optimization for Image-to-Video Adherence12 Aug 2026
- 2026CAPE-T2V: Captioner-Anchored Prompt Enhancement toward Two-Sided Conditioning Alignment in Text-to-Video Generation4 Aug 2026
- 2026PermaVid: Consistent Video Generation Across Edits via Disentangled Context Memory15 Jun 2026
- 2026Jailbreaking Multimodal Large Language Models using Multi-Clip Video1 Jun 2026
- 2026Breaking Dual Bottlenecks: Evolving Unified Multimodal Models into Self-Adaptive Interleaved Visual Reasoners14 May 2026
- 2026When Numbers Speak: Aligning Textual Numerals and Visual Instances in Text-to-Video Diffusion Models9 Apr 2026
- 2026SCMAPR: Self-Correcting Multi-Agent Prompt Refinement for Complex-Scenario Text-to-Video Generation7 Apr 2026
- 2026P-Flow: Prompting Visual Effects Generation23 Mar 2026
- 2026Premier: Personalized Preference Modulation with Learnable User Embedding in Text-to-Image Generation21 Mar 2026
9 more
- 2026Guiding Diffusion-based Reconstruction with Contrastive Signals for Balanced Visual Representation5 Mar 2026
- 2026Retrieval, Refinement, and Ranking for Text-to-Video Generation via Prompt Optimization and Test-Time Scaling2 Mar 2026
- 2026TextBFGS: A Case-Based Reasoning Approach to Code Optimization via Error-Operator Retrieval20 Jan 2026
- 2025A Reason-then-Describe Instruction Interpreter for Controllable Video Generation25 Nov 2025
- 2025RAPO++: Cross-Stage Prompt Optimization for Text-to-Video Generation via Data Alignment and Test-Time Scaling23 Oct 2025
- 2025VISTA: A Test-Time Self-Improving Video Generation Agent17 Oct 2025
- 2025Multimodal Prompt Optimization: Why Not Leverage Multiple Modalities for MLLMs10 Oct 2025
- 2025V.I.P. : Iterative Online Preference Distillation for Efficient Video Diffusion Models5 Aug 2025
- 2025Causally Steered Diffusion for Automated Video Counterfactual Generation17 Jun 2025
- 2025Causally Steered Diffusion for Automated Video Counterfactual Generationcited by 6
- 2026SCMAPR: Self-Correcting Multi-Agent Prompt Refinement for Complex-Scenario Text-to-Video Generationcited by 4
- 2026CAPE-T2V: Captioner-Anchored Prompt Enhancement toward Two-Sided Conditioning Alignment in Text-to-Video Generationcited by 3
- 2025V.I.P. : Iterative Online Preference Distillation for Efficient Video Diffusion Modelscited by 1
- 2025A Reason-then-Describe Instruction Interpreter for Controllable Video Generationcited by 0
- 2026When Numbers Speak: Aligning Textual Numerals and Visual Instances in Text-to-Video Diffusion Modelscited by 0
- 2026CAPE-T2V: Captioner-Anchored Prompt Enhancement toward Two-Sided Conditioning Alignment in Text-to-Video Generation4 Aug 2026
- 2026When Numbers Speak: Aligning Textual Numerals and Visual Instances in Text-to-Video Diffusion Models9 Apr 2026
- 2026SCMAPR: Self-Correcting Multi-Agent Prompt Refinement for Complex-Scenario Text-to-Video Generation7 Apr 2026
- 2025A Reason-then-Describe Instruction Interpreter for Controllable Video Generation25 Nov 2025
- 2025V.I.P. : Iterative Online Preference Distillation for Efficient Video Diffusion Models5 Aug 2025
- 2025Causally Steered Diffusion for Automated Video Counterfactual Generation17 Jun 2025
- 2025VISTA: A Test-Time Self-Improving Video Generation Agentcited by 31
- 2025Multimodal Prompt Optimization: Why Not Leverage Multiple Modalities for MLLMscited by 7
- 2026Breaking Dual Bottlenecks: Evolving Unified Multimodal Models into Self-Adaptive Interleaved Visual Reasonerscited by 3
- 2026Guiding Diffusion-based Reconstruction with Contrastive Signals for Balanced Visual Representationcited by 2
- 2026WanPE: Towards Cinematic Prompt Enhancement for Modern Text-to-Video Generationcited by 1
- 2026Retrieval, Refinement, and Ranking for Text-to-Video Generation via Prompt Optimization and Test-Time Scalingcited by 0
- 2026P-Flow: Prompting Visual Effects Generationcited by 0
- 2026PermaVid: Consistent Video Generation Across Edits via Disentangled Context Memorycited by 0
- 2026From Evaluation to Enhancement: Benchmarking and Improving Think-with-Video Reasoning for Video Generative Modelscited by 0
- 2026SkillPE: Creativity-Oriented Cinematic Skill Evolution for Text-to-Video Prompt Engineeringcited by 0
- 2026SkillPE: Creativity-Oriented Cinematic Skill Evolution for Text-to-Video Prompt Engineering28 Sep 2026
- 2026WanPE: Towards Cinematic Prompt Enhancement for Modern Text-to-Video Generation24 Sep 2026
- 2026From Evaluation to Enhancement: Benchmarking and Improving Think-with-Video Reasoning for Video Generative Models10 Sep 2026
- 2026PermaVid: Consistent Video Generation Across Edits via Disentangled Context Memory15 Jun 2026
- 2026Breaking Dual Bottlenecks: Evolving Unified Multimodal Models into Self-Adaptive Interleaved Visual Reasoners14 May 2026
- 2026P-Flow: Prompting Visual Effects Generation23 Mar 2026
- 2026Guiding Diffusion-based Reconstruction with Contrastive Signals for Balanced Visual Representation5 Mar 2026
- 2026Retrieval, Refinement, and Ranking for Text-to-Video Generation via Prompt Optimization and Test-Time Scaling2 Mar 2026
- 2025VISTA: A Test-Time Self-Improving Video Generation Agent17 Oct 2025
- 2025Multimodal Prompt Optimization: Why Not Leverage Multiple Modalities for MLLMs10 Oct 2025
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