YouTube introduced several AI-powered features, community tools and business-building opportunities for creators. From what is understood, the updates include the integration of Veo into YouTube Shorts’ Dream Screen feature. According to the company, Veo is a generative video model developed by Google DeepMind and used to enhance video backgrounds and, starting in 2025, enable the generation of 6-second standalone video clips for Shorts. Currently, 70% of channels uploading to YouTube each month are focused on Shorts, and creator earnings from Shorts have been increasing since revenue sharing was introduced, the company revealed.
Furthermore, YouTube also launched a new feature called Communities, which will reportedly allow creators and their viewers to engage in conversations directly on a creator’s channel. From what is understood, this feature is currently available to select creators in the US and India, with plans for broader expansion in 2025. Additionally, updates to the YouTube experience on TVs will enable creators to organize content into seasons and episodes, implement immersive content, and streamline subscription options. The company also announced that The Inspiration Tab in YouTube Studio is being expanded to provide more AI-powered suggestions for titles, thumbnails, and content ideas. It is believed that this tool aims to assist creators in the ideation and content creation process. The Comments tab in the YouTube Studio mobile app, reportedly, will be renamed to “Community” and will include AI-enhanced reply suggestions tailored to the creator’s style.
YouTube also introduced Hype, a feature that seemingly allows viewers to support emerging creators by “hyping” their videos. Videos with the most hype points will appear on a leaderboard, increasing their visibility. Beta tests for Hype have been conducted in Turkey, Taiwan, and Brazil, with over 5 million hyping actions recorded.
Furthermore, Gifts, powered by Jewels, is a new feature for vertical livestreams in the U.S., allowing creators to earn through digital items and real-time fan engagement. YouTube’s auto-dubbing tool will be expanded to include more creators and languages, such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian. From what is understood, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program is also being expanded to Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, in addition to its existing availability in the US and South Korea.