YouTube is increasing its voice replies choice to all creators, whereas it’s additionally making an attempt out some new creation instruments for Shorts, and enhancing its Premium Lite subscription providing.
First, on voice replies, which permits creators and channel managers to reply to feedback beneath their movies with voice clips.
YouTube started experimenting with voice replies with chosen creators in December 2024, earlier than increasing it to thousands and thousands of creators all through 2025. And now, YouTube is making the choice obtainable to all creators.
As per YouTube: “We’re completely happy to announce that the voice replies characteristic, which permits creators to answer to feedback on their movies with their voice, is now obtainable to all creators. Creators can now report a voice reply to feedback from the YouTube predominant app or Studio Cellular on Android and iOS.”
YouTube mentioned the purpose of voice replies is to make it simpler for creators to point out appreciation and join with their followers in a extra private method.
On one other entrance, YouTube can also be testing a brand new synthetic intelligence-based enhancing choice for Shorts, with some Shorts viewers now ready to make use of the Remix choice to “Add an object” or “Reimagine” the content material, in response to a Feb. 24 firm put up.
With Add an object, viewers will be capable to use AI prompts to insert gadgets right into a scene from an authentic clip, enabling customized enhancing of a video with new results or components.
With Reimagine, Shorts viewers will be capable to remodel a single body from the unique clip into a completely new video, through steered or customized prompts. Viewers will be capable to add two reference images for context.
So, primarily, this new AI-powered remix operate will allow Shorts viewers to generate all-new clips based mostly on the content material of the unique, which may very well be one other technique to improve Shorts engagement and inventive tendencies. YouTube added its Lengthen with AI choice in September, which permits viewers to provide you with various endings to clips utilizing AI. The platform continues to be seemingly in search of the correct system to faucet into the artistic capability of AI to reinforce the Shorts engagement expertise.
I’m unsure that enabling customers to generate extra spinoff content material that they will then put up as their very own is the best choice, however clearly, YouTube is prepared to experiment.
YouTube mentioned these new remix choices are presently in testing with a small group of customers.
Lastly, YouTube is including background play and downloads to its Premium Lite subscription providing.
Premium Lite, which is a less expensive model of YouTube Premium that reduces the quantity of advertisements displayed, however doesn’t do away with them totally, was first launched in chosen areas in 2024, in response to The Verge. It expanded to extra markets in July..
And now, YouTube is including extra to the general Premium Lite providing, which has been a key consumer request.
That can improve the worth of the choice, which may assist YouTube drive extra take-up. And with the corporate now producing billions from subscriptions, that may very well be an vital push.
Whereas mother or father firm Google doesn’t share knowledge on YouTube subscriber income in isolation, it not too long ago shared in its 2025 This fall earnings name that it now has over 325 million paid subscriptions throughout each Google and YouTube, and that it’s seeing sturdy subscription income development for YouTube.
Offering extra choices for individuals to sign-up, then, is a logical step to assist drive elevated income consumption for the enterprise
