YouTube announced new AI tools for creators, along with changes to Shorts and its Ask YouTube feature. The updates are designed to help creators with research, editing, video testing and channel management.
The company announced the features at its Made on YouTube event on September 23. The new tools will be added across YouTube Studio, Shorts and the YouTube Create app. YouTube is also expanding Ask YouTube into a shopping assistant. The feature will help users find products and compare recommendations while watching videos.
YouTube Studio is getting AI-based feedback for draft videos. The tool can review areas such as pacing, structure and storytelling. Creators will also be able to generate thumbnails that fit their channel style. YouTube is testing dynamic thumbnails that can show different options to different groups of viewers.
Another new feature will let creators test up to three versions of a video. They can compare different cuts to see which opening works better with their audience. YouTube said creators have completed more than 40 million title and thumbnail A/B tests since the feature launched in 2024. Ask Studio can also review older videos and suggest updated thumbnails.
Gemini is also coming to a conversational editing tool for Shorts and the YouTube Create app. Creators can use prompts to trim clips, rearrange frames and match music before returning to the normal editing timeline.
YouTube is expanding Ask YouTube with shopping features. Users searching for products can get organised recommendations and comparison tables based on their preferences. Viewers can also ask follow-up questions from a video's watch page. This adds a direct shopping layer to the video experience.
Shorts is getting another major change with the introduction of series. Creators can organise Shorts into seasons and episodes instead of posting each clip separately. The format is designed for continuing stories. Series will appear on creator channels and support custom thumbnails. YouTube is also testing AI-powered comment moderation.
The tool can learn a creator's moderation style. For identity protection, YouTube is expanding its likeness detection tools. Speaking voice detection is expected to be integrated with facial detection later this year.