YouTube Readies Custom Feeds, Group Chats and More AI Features

YouTube will expand personalization, messaging and video-production tools following its annual Made on YouTube presentation. The announcements include custom recommendation feeds, AI features for viewers and creators, and new livestream formats.

Custom Feeds will let users create additional tabs populated from a written description. Users will be able to refine the prompt and rate recommendations, while multiple feeds can be saved. The feature will initially roll out in the US across web, mobile and TV.

New Comment and Chat Options

Later this year, YouTube will add GIFs to comments on regular videos and Shorts. Users will be able to search for popular animated images directly from the comment field.

Group chats in direct messages will initially be available in the US, UK, Singapore, Brazil and some European countries.

Ask YouTube and Ask Music

Ask YouTube is being expanded for product-review videos, letting viewers ask text or voice questions. Search may also provide organized video recommendations and product-comparison tables.

Ask Music will receive more prominent placement in YouTube Music, including at the top of the app. It will create and edit playlists, provide information about artists and offer suggestions while users build mixes. YouTube also plans to introduce Your Podcast Lineup in the coming months, as a weekly spoken preview of recommended podcasts. These features are limited to YouTube Music subscribers and will begin rolling out later this year.

AI Tools for Creators

The YouTube Create app will get a Gemini-based conversational editing tool. Expanded A/B testing will let creators compare up to three versions of a video by engagement.

Ask Studio will offer suggestions on pacing, framing and thumbnails, and generate thumbnails with AI. It will also analyze older videos in the background and suggest ways to increase views. Google said a large majority of US video creators used AI to create or edit content during the past year.

Shared Streams and Live Autodubbing

Early next year, YouTube plans to use live matchmaking to combine streams from creators who may not know one another. The shared broadcasts will connect to Live Showdown, where streamers compete on live leaderboards tracking chats, gifts and Super Chats.

Creators will also be able to enable real-time translation for livestreams early next year. YouTube says 40% of live watch time comes from viewers outside a creator’s home country, but it has not specified which technology will power the autodubbing.