YouTube announced several updates aimed at enhancing user experience, intensifying the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and simplifying the purchasing process within the platform. These new features were revealed on Wednesday, the 23rd, during an event called Made on YouTube.
Among the core features are Custom Feeds, which will allow for the creation of thematic sections on the main page, and the evolution of Ask YouTube, an AI-based functionality designed to help users find information and products by answering questions.
Improvements for live streams, new AI-powered creation tools, and measures focused on protection against the misuse of voice and image were also announced.
Enhanced Ask YouTube Features
Ask YouTube will receive new capabilities, allowing users to ask questions and send additional inquiries interactively while browsing the service. One important addition focuses on e-commerce: when searching for reviews of a specific item, YouTube may present recommendations organized in formats such as comparison tables, grouping features and categories according to the user's declared preferences.
After selecting a video, it will be possible to proceed with questions about the product directly on the viewing screen. Furthermore, YouTube informed that this tool can be activated by voice commands while playing on television. This change elevates the role of AI on the platform, transforming it from a mere video locator to a system that organizes data contained in content and assists in comparing options.
Expansion of Affiliate and Shopping Programs
YouTube also communicated changes to its YouTube Shopping affiliate program. The platform plans to expand this program to 35 countries by the end of the year. According to Reuters, Brazil and India will be part of the markets where creators can link Amazon products and earn commissions from sales generated by their content. Items can be promoted in long videos, Shorts, and live streams by accredited channels. Additionally, YouTube specified that the offers shown to viewers will be adapted to the country they are in.
New Tools for Live Streams
Live streams will also receive unprecedented functionalities. Live auto-dubbing was presented, a system designed to translate creators' speech in real time during broadcasts. This feature will undergo initial tests in 2027, starting with English and Spanish, with other languages expected to be included later. The company emphasizes that over 40% of live viewing time comes from viewers located outside the creator's home country.
Another innovation is Live Showdowns, a format that allows transforming multi-creator streams into a kind of team competition, where chats, gifts, and Super Chats can instantly influence the displayed score. YouTube also intends to extend Watch With, allowing creators to comment live on selectable long videos, with expansion planned to begin in 2026.
AI Tools for Content Creators
The improvements announced by YouTube were not limited to the general public; creators will also gain new AI-based aids. A conversational assistant based on Gemini will be integrated into Shorts and the YouTube Create app. This tool will assist with editing tasks via text commands, covering cutting pauses, reorganizing segments, music synchronization, and generating suggestions for videos.
YouTube Studio will also be equipped with features to guide creators during the production phase, such as generating thumbnails aligned with each channel's style and the ability to test up to three different versions of a video to determine which best captures audience attention.
Finally, the platform announced a reinforcement of its tools to combat the improper use of individuals' images. The similarity detection system will be implemented on mobile devices, alerting creators when content using their image is identified improperly. YouTube also plans to integrate voice detection with facial detection, aiming to improve the identification of content that attempts to replicate someone's appearance or voice. All these modifications are part of YouTube's larger strategy to integrate AI into content discovery, video production, shopping, and live streaming.