YouTube teases top features for 2025 – brought to you by AI

Despite the rise and fall of video platforms such as TikTok, Vine, and Musical.ly, YouTube has remained a top player in video streaming over the years. A key to that success has been constant updates to the platform, which make it easier for creators to produce and share videos and for audiences to enjoy them. Now, YouTube is sharing a road map for even more features. 

On Tuesday, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, in a blog post celebrating the platform’s 20-year anniversary, highlighted major wins, identified several trends, and described what to expect from the platform in 2025 — which unsurprisingly includes more AI. 

New in AI 

AI-powered features have been integral to the platform, powering video recommendations, caption production, and harmful content flagging. Last year, the company introduced additional AI features such as Dream Screen, soon getting Google’s Veo 2 to improve how users generate images and video backgrounds for Shorts, and Dream Track, which allows users to create soundtracks for Shorts from a text prompt. Now, the company is turning its attention to incorporating AI for more practical, everyday applications. 

For example, Mohan shared that YouTube is investing in tools to help creators generate video ideas, titles, and thumbnails and optimize everyday workflows. YouTube will also expand its auto dubbing feature — which uses AI to help creators translate their videos into multiple languages — to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program. 

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The platform is developing new tools to help creatives detect and control how AI depicts them on YouTube. In a pilot program, “some of the world’s most influential figures” will get access to this early-stage technology. YouTube will use their feedback to refine the controls and build out the detection systems.

AI will also be used to improve protections for younger viewers. Plans include using machine learning to help estimate a user’s age and distinguishing younger viewers from adults to better cater content, experiences, and protections.

YouTube on TV

Here’s a twist: According to Mohan, TV has surpassed mobile to become the primary device for YouTube viewing in the US by watch time. To better cater to these users, YouTube is improving its TV-watching options, starting with a second-screen experience that enables users to interact with the video they are watching on TV using their phones. 

YouTube is also experimenting with a Watch With feature that lets creators provide real-time commentary to events, such as games. Last year, the feature was available only for NFL games, but YouTube said it will continue to experiment with other sports and types of content. 

Podcasts are also having a moment on the platform, with YouTube becoming the most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the US, according to Mahone. To further investment in podcasts, YouTube shared it will roll out more tools to support podcasters with improved monetization opportunities and audience discovery. 

Revenue streams 

YouTube has enabled many creators to make lucrative businesses based on the platform via leveraging ads, YouTube Premium, and shopping recommendations. To continue to bolster the creator economy, YouTube shared it will continue to support traditional revenue streams while introducing new ways for creators to partner with brands. 

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YouTube is also working on new ways for fans to engage with creators. For example, it is expanding its Hype feature that allows fans to go beyond liking and commenting on a video. By hyping a video that’s been out less than seven days from a creator with under 500,000 subscribers, it climbs on hyped video leaderboards, giving creators an indicator of what content is really aligning with viewers, and top hyped accounts also get a special badge.