Updates to Studio, YouTube Live, new GenAI tools, and everything else announced at Made on YouTube

The Made on YouTube 2025 event wasn't just a celebration of two decades; it was a blueprint for the future. YouTube rolled out a comprehensive suite of new features, AI tools, and platform upgrades aimed at supercharging every stage of a creator's journey.

Generative AI: The New Frontier of Video Creation

YouTube is integrating Google DeepMind's Veo 3 Fast directly into Shorts, allowing creators to generate video backgrounds or clips with sound for free. This isn't just about adding filters; it's about applying motion, restyling videos, and even adding props to scenes through AI prompts. The new 'Edit with AI' feature helps turn raw footage into a polished first draft, while 'Speech to song' transforms dialogue into quirky soundtracks. These tools are designed to lower the barrier to high-quality production, letting creators focus more on storytelling and less on technical hurdles.

Beyond Shorts: AI for Every Creator

These generative capabilities are part of a broader push to make AI a collaborative partner. Imagine brainstorming video ideas or refining edits with an AI that understands your channel's style. It's about augmenting human creativity, not replacing it, and giving every creator access to studio-grade effects.

YouTube Studio Transforms into an AI Co-Pilot

Studio is evolving from a management dashboard to a creative command center. The new 'Ask Studio' feature acts as a conversational tool, providing insights to optimize your channel based on real-time data. Meanwhile, the Inspiration Tab—now globally available—uses AI to help brainstorm video ideas and generate outlines. Collaborations have been streamlined, allowing you to invite up to five creators directly, with each collaborator's channel promoted upon acceptance.

Another significant update is the expansion of the likeness detection tool to all YouTube Partner Program creators in an open beta. This tool, housed under the renamed 'Content detection' tab (formerly Copyright), helps manage videos made with AI using your facial likeness. It's part of YouTube's commitment to giving creators more control over their digital identity.

Live Streaming Gets a Major Facelift

Live content is a powerhouse for connection, and YouTube is making its largest upgrade ever. Creators can now stream in both horizontal and vertical formats simultaneously, with the vertical crop appearing in the Shorts feed. This dual-format approach maximizes reach without extra effort. Automatic highlights for mobile streams will soon pull Shorts from live sessions, making it easy to repurpose content. These updates are geared towards enhancing interactivity and monetization, acknowledging that over 30% of daily logged-in viewers watched live content in Q2 2025.

Monetization and Viewer Engagement

With new cropping options and third-party encoder compatibility on the horizon, live streaming is becoming more versatile. Features like subscriber-only comments, previously limited to live chat, are now available on individual videos and Shorts, giving creators tighter community control.

Empowering Podcasters with Video Magic

Podcasts have found a vibrant home on YouTube, and new tools are making video integration seamless. Creators can easily generate engaging video clips and Shorts from full podcast episodes. For audio-only creators, Veo can now generate customizable video from audio files, providing a visual layer without extensive production resources. This bridges the gap between audio and video, helping podcasters tap into YouTube's massive audience with minimal friction.

These features are part of a trend towards multimedia content, where audio narratives gain visual depth. It's an innovative way to repurpose existing work and reach viewers who prefer video formats.

Deepening the Bond Between Artists and Fans

Fandom is at the heart of music culture, and YouTube is building new pathways for artist-fan connections. On YouTube Music, countdowns to new releases and pre-save options are rolling out. Across the platform, artists can reward top fans with exclusive merch, behind-the-scenes clips, and personalized 'thank you' videos. This fosters a sense of community and loyalty, turning passive listeners into active participants in an artist's journey.

By leveraging YouTube's interactive features, artists can create unique experiences that go beyond streaming, strengthening their brand and audience engagement in meaningful ways.

Streamlining Brand Partnerships and E-Commerce

Brand collaborations are getting a boost with new initiatives to accelerate deals and ensure their success. For instance, Shorts will soon support adding links to brand sites directly in videos. YouTube Shopping is expanding to more markets, with AI assistance to simplify product tagging. These updates make it easier for creators to monetize through partnerships and e-commerce, reducing the administrative overhead often associated with brand deals.

The focus is on creating a seamless ecosystem where creators can focus on content while YouTube handles the logistics of collaboration and sales. It's a win-win for creators and brands alike.

Enhanced Control and Community Management

Beyond flashy AI tools, YouTube is doubling down on creator empowerment with practical updates. AI-enhanced comment reply suggestions are now globally available, offering responses in your channel's tone to save time. Communities are accessible to all creators 16+ with Posts access, providing a dedicated space for fan interactions. The Advanced mode in Studio has been refreshed for more intuitive navigation and granular data without overwhelm.

From subscriber-only comments to improved analytics filters, these features collectively give creators unprecedented control over their channels and communities. It's about building a sustainable environment where creativity can thrive, backed by tools that understand and adapt to creator needs. As YouTube looks to the next 20 years, these innovations signal a future where technology and human creativity are inextricably linked, empowering everyone to share their stories on a global stage.