YouTube will soon enable creators to produce Shorts featuring AI versions of themselves, CEO Neal Mohan announced Wednesday. This new functionality will join existing AI tools on the platform, which currently manages an average of 200 billion daily views for Shorts.
Mohan detailed the upcoming feature in his annual letter, stating, “This year you’ll be able to create a Short using your own likeness, produce games with a simple text prompt, and experiment with music.” He added that AI would “remain a tool for expression, not a replacement.”
The company has continued investment in Shorts, with the new capability expanding its suite of AI tools for the format. Current tools include AI clip generation, AI stickers, and AI auto-dubbing. YouTube also plans to provide creators with new tools for managing their likeness within AI-generated content.
In October, YouTube introduced likeness-detection technology for eligible creators, allowing them to identify AI-generated content depicting their face and voice. Creators can then request the removal of such content. The platform has addressed the proliferation of AI-generated content, with Mohan asserting the company’s commitment to a high-quality viewing experience.
Mohan stated, “Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose any preconceived notions on the creator ecosystem.” He elaborated, “To reduce the spread of low quality AI content, we’re actively building on our established systems that have been very successful in combatting spam and clickbait, and reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content.”
In addition to AI developments, YouTube is expanding Shorts’ formats to include image posts.
