Custom Feeds and Shorts
Microdrama fans might find it easier to follow their favorite shows too.
YouTube held its annual product event and revealed updates on the creator and generative AI fronts. One of the notable announcements is that users will be able to create custom feeds on a dedicated tab accessed directly from the platform's homepage.
YouTube suggests feeds could be dedicated to specific moods or interests, such as workouts, long documentaries, or surfacing new creators. US users will be able to try custom feeds on the web, mobile, and TVs soon, generating them through conversational AI prompts.
Creators can now arrange Shorts episodically with custom thumbnails and sequential playback following an expansion of the shows feature to that format. This is designed to make it easier for viewers to keep up with episodic content and microdramas in order.
Comments and Shopping
Platform users will soon be able to leave a GIF under a video via a searchable GIF library. This feature launches globally in the mobile app this fall, while TV app users can post comments using a new text-to-speech voice tool.
Ask YouTube's capabilities are expanding to include enhanced shopping features, such as video recommendations and product comparison tables when requesting reviews. Users can also ask questions about visible products not explicitly mentioned in a video, while the chatbot allows continuing conversations from search to the video player.
Music and Live Dubbing
YouTube Music is receiving updates including the Ask Music tool to learn more about artists and manage song queues. A generative AI feature called Podcast Lineup provides weekly previews for show discovery. Both features roll out globally to YouTube Music and Premium subscribers.
Additionally, YouTube extended its exclusive Coachella streaming rights through 2030 and plans to pilot a live auto-dubbing tool in early 2027, starting with English and Spanish translations.
