YouTube Unveils 30+ AI-Powered Features at Made On YouTube 2026
At its annual Made On YouTube 2026 event in September 2026, YouTube announced more than 30 new features under the theme "Built for the YouTube Era," with AI serving as the throughline across discovery, fan engagement, creation, and monetization.
On the viewer side, YouTube introduced customizable feeds that let users build dedicated homepage tabs using natural language, with recommendations that auto-refresh based on mood and context. The Ask YouTube assistant has been expanded into a shopping assistant that can generate product comparison tables directly on the watch page, including voice support on TV. Short-form series will organize videos into seasonal, sequential viewing—a move aimed at the booming micro-drama trend. YouTube reported 6.5 billion views of micro-dramas on its platform in the first half of 2026, with watch time up 50% year over year.
For creators, the centerpiece is a Gemini-powered conversational editing tool that turns selected footage and prompts into a rough cut, handling tasks such as removing pauses, adjusting pacing, and syncing music to the beat. The feature is expected to roll out globally on Android and iPhone in early 2027. A companion Ask Studio feature provides feedback on drafts, while AI-assisted comment moderation can hold potentially unwanted comments for review based on a creator's historical moderation style, without auto-deleting them.
For live streaming, YouTube announced real-time dubbing that translates a streamer's voice into another language, starting with English-to-Spanish translations and entering testing in early 2027. A new live PK feature will allow creators to host friendly matchups where viewer chats, gifts, and paid Super Chats affect the score in real time.
On the business side, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program will expand to 35 countries by the end of 2026, with localized product links for international audiences. The brand marketplace for creator partnerships, formerly BrandConnect, is now available in 20 countries.
