YouTube Shorts could soon look a lot more personal, and a lot more futuristic. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says creators will be able to generate Shorts using their own likeness, opening the door for AI-powered videos that still feel rooted in the creator’s identity.
In his annual letter, Mohan explained that this new capability is part of a broader push to make AI a creative partner inside YouTube, not a substitute for real people. Alongside AI likeness tools, he said creators will also be able to produce games from a simple text prompt and experiment with music features designed to spark new ideas and streamline production. His message was clear: AI is meant to expand what creators can do, not replace them.
The move targets YouTube’s fastest-moving format. Mohan noted that Shorts now averages around 200 billion daily views, making it one of the biggest drivers of attention on the platform. With that kind of momentum, YouTube is continuing to invest heavily in Shorts to keep viewers watching and creators publishing.
While YouTube hasn’t shared every detail about how AI likeness creation will work, the feature is expected to join a growing list of AI tools already built into Shorts. Current options include generating AI clips, adding AI stickers, and using auto-dubbing to help videos reach audiences in more languages with less effort.
Just as important as creation, YouTube says it’s also building stronger controls. Mohan said creators will get new tools to manage how their likeness is used in AI-generated content, which matters more than ever as fake or misleading videos become easier to produce.
That focus on protection follows earlier steps from YouTube to prevent misuse. The platform has already introduced likeness-detection technology for eligible creators that can flag AI-generated content mimicking a creator’s face or voice. When something is detected, creators can request removal, giving them more power to defend their identity and reputation.
YouTube is also confronting a growing problem seen across social media: low-quality, repetitive AI content that floods feeds and undermines the viewing experience. Mohan said the company wants to keep YouTube open to new trends without letting the platform drown in “AI slop.” He explained that YouTube is building on the systems it already uses to fight spam and clickbait, with the goal of reducing the spread of low-quality, mass-produced AI videos.
And the Shorts experience itself is set to keep evolving. YouTube is preparing to expand Shorts with additional formats, including image posts, a style of content that has already proven popular on other short-form video platforms.
Taken together, YouTube’s plan for Shorts is moving in two directions at once: giving creators more AI-powered ways to produce content faster and more creatively, while tightening protections and quality controls so the feed remains worth scrolling.
