YouTubers can now create Shorts featuring their own AI avatars.

Your YouTube Shorts feed is set to become a hub for even more AI-generated content from your favorite creators, including AI versions of the creators themselves. In his annual letter, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced that later this year, creators will have the ability to produce Shorts featuring their “own likeness.”

While specifics about these likenesses remain under wraps, Mohan indicated that more information, including the launch date and functionality, will be shared soon. This initiative is part of YouTube’s broader strategy to integrate AI tools; creators will also gain the ability to develop games using text prompts (currently in closed beta) and explore music creation, as noted by Mohan. The platform already provides various AI tools, such as a chatbot for channel analytics, AI-driven auto-dubbing, and AI-generated video clips for Shorts.

Mohan’s letter also addresses the challenges posed by AI-generated content on the platform. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high-quality viewing experience, stating, “Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose any preconceived notions on the creator ecosystem.” He reassures users that YouTube is enhancing its existing systems to effectively combat spam and clickbait while minimizing the spread of low-quality, repetitive content.

Additionally, Shorts will be receiving new features, with Mohan revealing that YouTube plans to incorporate “different formats,” including image posts, directly into the feed this year. He also highlighted that Shorts now average an impressive “200 billion daily views.”