YouTube CEO promises more AI features in 2026 (www.engadget.com)

YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan has announced plans to integrate more AI features into the platform by 2026, aimed at enhancing creator tools and addressing current AI-related challenges. A key highlight includes the ability for creators to generate AI versions of themselves for Shorts, while also acknowledging the serious issue of deepfakes and the need for protective measures. Mohan emphasized YouTube's commitment to supporting legislation like the NO FAKES Act and mentioned a new detection feature that scans uploads for unauthorized likeness usage, further protecting creators against misuse. In addition to this, YouTube is delving into more sophisticated AI functionalities, such as a beta no-code Playables platform that enables game creation via Gemini 3 using simple text prompts, alongside new music creation tools. Despite concerns regarding low-quality AI content prevalent on other platforms, Mohan noted that around six million daily viewers engaged with AI autodubbed content for over ten minutes in December. Although no specific timeline was provided for the AI likeness feature, users now have the option to exclude Shorts from search results, giving them greater control over their viewing experience.