YouTube has unveiled a range of updates at its annual Made on YouTube event. Among the announced features are custom feeds created by artificial intelligence, the ability to add GIF comments, and new shopping options.
Users will be able to create specific cards on the home screen using text prompts. The custom feeds feature will first be available to users in the US, and will work on web, mobile phones and televisions. Users will be able to create and maintain up to eight different custom feeds simultaneously.
The platform is introducing official support for GIFs in the comments section. A vast library of GIFs will be integrated directly into the mobile app this autumn. A feature to dictate text using one's own voice is also being introduced for comments on televisions.
Creators who prefer short-form content are receiving the option to structure their Shorts videos into structured episodes. With custom thumbnails and automatic sequential playback, the enhanced format becomes the foundation for mini-drama series.
Artificial intelligence is integrated into the upgraded Q&A tool, which offers features related to shopping. When watching a review of a new smartphone, you can request a detailed table of comparative specifications or recommendations for visually similar products. The tool will analyse visual content to help find information, even if the creator has not explicitly mentioned specific items. The conversation with the advanced chatbot can continue from the search screen directly into the video player.
More than 70 per cent of viewing time is spent on mobile devices. The new innovative tool will allow users to learn details about the artist currently playing and manage the sequence of upcoming tracks through natural language queries. A special tool for podcast lovers will offer a weekly summary of recommended shows, with clear reasons why they might appeal. Both music and podcast features will be available globally. A test of the tool for automatic live broadcast syncing is planned for the beginning of 2027.
