YouTube to let creators generate AI Shorts using their own likeness
SAN FRANCISCO: YouTube AI Shorts using own likeness will soon become a reality as the video-sharing platform prepares to roll out a new feature allowing creators to generate AI-powered Shorts based on their own appearance and voice, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced on Thursday.
In his annual letter, Mohan said that creators will be able to use artificial intelligence tools to create Shorts featuring their own likeness, develop games using simple text prompts and experiment with AI-generated music.
“This year you’ll be able to create a Short using your own likeness, produce games with a simple text prompt, and experiment with music,” Mohan wrote, stressing that AI would function as a creative aid rather than a substitute for human creators.
He described artificial intelligence as “a tool for expression, not a replacement,” signalling YouTube’s intent to keep creators at the centre of its evolving ecosystem while embracing generative AI technologies.
The announcement suggests that users scrolling through Shorts may soon encounter AI-generated versions of their favourite creators, a move that reflects YouTube’s broader push into AI-enhanced content creation.
Mohan noted that YouTube Shorts now averages around 200 billion daily views, making it one of the platform’s most dominant formats. He said the company continues to invest heavily in Shorts to sustain and grow this massive audience.
While YouTube did not share technical details about how the new feature will work, it will expand the platform’s existing AI tools for Shorts, which already include AI-generated video clips, AI stickers and automatic AI-powered dubbing.
The CEO also said that YouTube will introduce new controls allowing creators to better manage how their likeness is used in AI-generated content, amid growing concerns about digital identity misuse.
Although creators are allowed to feature their own likeness in videos, YouTube has also taken steps to prevent unauthorised use by others. In October last year, the Google-owned platform launched likeness-detection technology for eligible creators, enabling them to identify AI-generated videos that replicate their face or voice without consent.
Under this system, creators can request the removal of unauthorised AI-generated content that misuses their likeness, a move aimed at addressing ethical and legal challenges posed by generative AI.
Like other social media platforms, YouTube is also grappling with the rapid spread of low-quality or repetitive AI-generated content, often referred to as “AI slop”.
Mohan said the company is prioritising quality control to ensure a better viewing experience for users.
“Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose preconceived notions on the creator ecosystem,” he said, noting that once-niche trends such as ASMR and gaming streams have become mainstream.
“But with this openness comes a responsibility to maintain the high-quality viewing experience that people want,” Mohan added. “To reduce the spread of low-quality AI content, we’re actively building on systems that have been successful in combating spam, clickbait and repetitive content.”
The latest announcement underscores YouTube’s effort to balance innovation with creator protection as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly influential force in digital content creation.
