Brief Summary
YouTube CEO, Neil Mohan, announced major updates for 2025 that will impact how creators make money, grow their channels, and use AI. These updates include new ways to earn money, changes in how people watch videos, and new AI tools to help creators.
- New ways to earn money: YouTube is introducing new ways for creators to earn money, including improved Channel memberships, better shopping features, new ways to partner with brands, and the launch of courses.
- Changes in how people watch videos: YouTube TV has surpassed mobile as the primary device for YouTube viewing in the US, leading to more watch time for creators.
- New AI tools: YouTube is introducing new AI tools to help creators with tasks like editing, scripting, translations, thumbnails, and production.
New Ways to Earn Money
YouTube is introducing new ways for creators to earn money beyond ads and YouTube Premium. They are improving Channel memberships, making shopping features better, and introducing new ways for creators to partner with brands. YouTube is also launching courses, allowing creators to sell lessons directly on the platform, similar to Skillshare, and keep most of the revenue. For podcasters, YouTube is now the most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the US and will introduce new tools to support podcasters, improve monetization, and make it easier to discover podcasts.
Changes in How People Watch Videos
YouTube TV has surpassed mobile as the primary device for YouTube viewing in the US. This shift is leading to more watch time for creators, as TV audiences tend to binge watch and watch videos for longer periods. YouTube advises creators to create content with a TV audience in mind to help their content perform better on TV. They recommend creating sharp, high-quality videos, making content bingeable with longer, more compelling stories and series, and ensuring browsable channel pages with featured sections. YouTube is also testing new interactive TV features, such as a second screen experience and Watch With, which allows creators to give live commentary and reactions.
New AI Tools
YouTube is focusing on AI tools that empower creators. They are making improvements to existing AI tools, such as Autodubbing, which helps creators translate their videos into multiple languages, and Dream Track, which lets creators make unique soundtracks for Shorts with text prompts. They are also introducing new AI tools, such as Dream Screen, which lets you generate AI image and video backgrounds, and AI brainstorming and planning tools. The Inspiration tab in YouTube Studio now generates full video outlines, title ideas, and thumbnail concepts. YouTube is also using AI to better analyze viewer behavior to help videos reach the right audience faster.
