YouTube has announced a new set of creator and viewer features at its Made on YouTube 2026 event, including AI-powered editing tools, expanded shopping functions and a new Shorts series format.
The company said the tools are designed to reduce routine work while keeping creators in control of their content.
AI Tools for Creators
YouTube Studio is getting personalised feedback on video drafts, channel-style thumbnail generation and video A/B testing, allowing creators to compare up to three video cuts. Ask Studio can also analyse older videos and suggest refreshed thumbnails.
A new Gemini-powered conversational editing assistant for Shorts and the YouTube Create app will let creators use prompts to trim clips, reorder frames, adjust pacing and sync music, while still allowing manual timeline editing.
YouTube is also testing opt-in AI comment moderation and expanding likeness protection to help creators detect misuse of their faces, with voice protection also being developed.
Shopping and Shorts Updates
Ask YouTube is being expanded with shopping features, including product recommendations, comparison tables and follow-up questions while watching videos.
YouTube is also expanding its Shopping affiliate programme to 35 countries by the end of 2026.
Creators can now organise Shorts into seasons and episodes, creating continuous series and making episodic content easier to follow across mobile and TV.
YouTube is also introducing Custom Feeds for US users on web, mobile and TVs, allowing viewers to create homepage feeds based on specific interests.
