Hajra Naz
Scrolling through YouTube Shorts soon might feel a little different. Users could start spotting AI versions of their favorite creators. On Wednesday, CEO Neal Mohan shared that creators will soon have the option to make Shorts using their own likeness.
The feature is expected later this year. Mohan mentioned in his annual letter that creators could also generate simple games from text prompts and experiment with music tools. He was careful to note that AI is meant to expand creative possibilities, not replace the humans behind the content.
Shorts has grown fast—averaging about 200 billion views daily, according to Mohan. That kind of scale is why YouTube continues to pour resources into the format, especially as TikTok and Instagram Reels compete for attention.
The company hasn’t shared every detail about how the AI likeness tool will work. However, it will integrate with existing AI features for Shorts, such as auto-dubbed clips, AI stickers, and other experimental creative tools. Mohan also said creators will have controls to manage how their likeness is used, a response to growing concerns about misuse.
Speaking of misuse, YouTube has been rolling out protections. Last October, it introduced likeness-detection technology for eligible creators. The tool flags AI-generated content that mimics a creator’s face or voice, and creators can request that these videos be removed.
AI-generated content has created a new challenge for platforms everywhere. Mohan said YouTube is working to maintain a quality viewing experience while still allowing creators to experiment.
Read More: Study Finds Over 20% of Videos Shown to New YouTube Users Are AI-Generated Trash
“Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose rigid expectations on creators,” he wrote. ASMR videos or people watching others play games once seemed strange; now, they are mainstream hits. But he also stressed that YouTube is actively building on systems to fight spam, clickbait, and repetitive AI content.
On top of AI tools, YouTube plans to expand Shorts with new formats, including image-based posts—a trend that has already taken off on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
