YouTube is significantly expanding its use of artificial intelligence and preparing new features designed to give creators more ways to grow their presence on the platform. According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, creators will be able later this year to produce short video clips featuring their own digital likeness—an AI-generated version of their face and voice.

YouTube Shorts, the platform’s short-form video format, now averages around 200 billion views per day and will be the primary space for these new AI-driven experiments. While YouTube has not yet announced an exact launch date or detailed technical specifications, the company says more information will be shared soon.

AI as a tool, not a replacement

Digital likenesses are part of YouTube’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across the platform. This year, new formats such as image-based posts are also expected to be introduced directly into creators’ channels. Creators already have access to AI-powered tools including channel analytics chatbots, automatic AI dubbing, and AI-generated clips for Shorts.

Mohan emphasized that AI is meant to support creators rather than replace them. In December, more than 1 million YouTube channels per day used the platform’s AI-powered creation tools. At the same time, over 6 million viewers per day watched at least ten minutes of content that had been automatically dubbed using artificial intelligence.

Stronger identity protection and parental controls

As AI adoption grows, YouTube is also strengthening protections for creators. The platform is expanding its likeness detection system, which flags instances where a creator’s face is used without consent in deepfake videos. This feature is being rolled out to millions of channels in the YouTube Partner Program.

YouTube is also simplifying and reinforcing parental controls. Parents will soon be able to better manage how much time their children spend watching short-form videos, including the option to set daily viewing limits all the way down to zero. Mohan stressed that parents—not governments—should decide what is appropriate for their families.

New features for YouTube TV and creative experimentation

YouTube TV will introduce a fully customizable multiview feature, allowing users to watch multiple live channels simultaneously on a single screen. In addition, more than ten specialized YouTube TV packages focused on sports, entertainment, and news will be launched, giving subscribers greater flexibility and control.

Creators will also be able to experiment with AI-generated games using text prompts and explore music creation powered by artificial intelligence. These developments come as YouTube tightens rules around content promoting digital gambling, including NFTs and in-game items.

Tackling “AI slop”

YouTube is also preparing to crack down on what Mohan described as “AI slop”—low-quality, spam-like content generated by artificial intelligence. Starting in 2026, the platform plans to significantly enhance its systems for identifying and removing misleading or manipulated content, including deepfakes.

Videos created with AI tools are already clearly labeled, and creators are required to disclose when content has been synthetically altered. YouTube’s systems also remove harmful synthetic media that violates platform policies.

A massive business with room to grow

In September, YouTube announced that it has paid more than $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies since 2021. Analysts at MoffettNathanson estimate that if YouTube were a standalone company, its valuation would fall between $475 billion and $550 billion.

According to YouTube’s leadership, the platform remains committed to building one of the world’s most diverse creator economies—combining artificial intelligence, identity protection, and new monetization tools to turn creators’ unique visions into sustainable global businesses.

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