YouTube says it plans to roll out new AI-driven creator tools in 2026, including the ability for creators to generate Shorts featuring an AI version of their own likeness. CEO Neal Mohan’s annual letter frames AI as a new creative toolkit for video, music, and interactive content, while also acknowledging concerns about deepfakes and low-quality “AI slop” spreading on the platform. Alongside the creative push, YouTube says it will strengthen labeling and detection approaches to reduce misleading or spammy AI content and give creators more ways to protect their identity.

Highlights:

• Creator safeguards: YouTube says it already uses a detection feature that scans newly uploaded videos for matches to help creators address unauthorized use of their likeness.
• Autodubbing uptake: Mohan said about six million daily viewers watched more than 10 minutes of AI-autodubbed content in December, which YouTube highlights as momentum for translation features.
• No-code games: YouTube pointed to its Playables effort and described a no-code approach where users can generate games from a single text prompt using Gemini 3 (in beta).
• TV viewing features: YouTube previewed ‘fully customizable’ multiview for YouTube TV in 2026 and also discussed expanded YouTube TV plan options.
• Policy direction: Mohan reiterated support for legislation such as the NO FAKES Act while describing deepfakes as a key concern for 2026.

Just as the synthesizer, Photoshop and CGI revolutionized sound and visuals, AI will be a boon to the creatives who are ready to lean in - Neal Mohan

Perspectives:

• YouTube leadership (Neal Mohan): YouTube presents AI as a “creative frontier” and says it wants to expand AI tools for Shorts, music, and Playables while improving protections around deepfakes and low-quality AI uploads. (Engadget)
• Tech press covering YouTube: Coverage highlights the tension between YouTube’s plan to ship more generative AI features and its admission that the platform already struggles with low-quality AI content. (PCMag)
• Product-focused observers: Reports emphasize YouTube’s broader 2026 roadmap beyond AI, including Music priorities and TV multiview customization for YouTube TV. (9to5Google)
• Industry comparison: TechXplore notes YouTube’s AI-likeness plan as a move that matches similar capabilities associated with OpenAI’s video creation efforts. (TechXplore)

Sources:

• YouTube will soon let creators make Shorts with their own AI likeness - techcrunch.com
• YouTube on what updates to expect in 2026: Music, ‘fully customizable’ TV multiview, more - 9to5google.com
• Here are YouTube's big bets for 2026 - androidpolice.com
• YouTube Acknowledges Slop Problem, But It's Still Full Steam Ahead on AI Features - pcmag.com
• YouTube CEO Acknowledges 'AI Slop' Problem, Says Platform Will Curb Low-Quality AI Content - slashdot.org
• YouTube to match OpenAI with AI likeness feature - techxplore.com
• YouTube CEO promises more AI features in 2026 - engadget.com
• YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says creators will be able to generate Shorts using their AI likenesses later in 2026, and touts AI tools for making games and music (Jay Peters/The Verge) - techmeme.com
• YouTube shares details of the big plans it has for 2026 - betanews.com