The next 20: Powering the future of entertainment together at Made on YouTube
Sep 16, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read
Twenty years ago, YouTube launched with the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to create and find a global stage. Since then, we’ve seen creators shape culture and entertainment in ways we never thought possible.
Anyone with an idea — whether an individual, artist, studio, or brand — can become a creator here. And we help them turn their idea into a business: we've paid out over $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies globally over the last four years.
“We didn't just create a platform. We built an economy.”
Today at Made on YouTube, we’re introducing new products and innovations to power the next decade of creation, connection, and business, on YouTube.
Tell your story, your way
AI can help creative people everywhere share their stories, so we’re making creation on Shorts easier and more fun.
We’ve started integrating Google DeepMind’s Veo 3 Fast into YouTube Shorts so you can easily create video backgrounds or clips with sound, for free. And new capabilities powered by Veo allow you to apply motion, restyle videos, and add props to your scenes. Edit with AI will help turn your raw footage into a first draft video. Finally, Speech to song turns video dialogue into a funny soundtrack for your next Short. Learn more here.
“We see AI as the next evolution of these tools – designed to empower human creativity and storytelling. But make no mistake – no studio, network, tech company, or AI tool will own the future of entertainment. That power belongs to you – the creators.”
Neal Mohan
Chief Executive Officer, YouTube
Streamlining the creative process
Creators already use YouTube Studio for deeper insights and inspiration for what to create next. We’re now adding a new suite of tools designed to be a true creative partner across every phase of the creation journey.
Create Collaborations with other creators to expand your reach. Or gather insights from our new conversational tool, Ask Studio, to better optimize your channel. And get ready for A/B testing for titles, updates to the Inspiration Tab and upgrades to auto-dubbing.
Finally, we’re expanding our likeness detection tool, which allows creators to detect and manage videos made with AI using their facial likeness, coming soon to all YouTube Partner Program creators in an open beta.
Here’s a deeper dive into Studio.
Reinventing formats to build stronger connections
We’re bringing creators and their fans closer by reimagining TV and formats driving today’s culture.
Live content drives unparalleled interactivity and connection. On average, over 30% of daily logged-in YouTube viewers watched live content in Q2 2025 alone. Today, we’re making our largest upgrade to live ever by introducing new ways to connect with existing fans, reach new audiences, and better monetize live streams. Read all about our updates to live here.
The past few years have seen Podcasts’ cultural relevance transform through video; we're bringing new tools to help podcast creators reach and connect with their audiences more deeply. These features will help podcasters easily create engaging video clips and Shorts from full episodes. Don’t have the time or resources for video? Google DeepMind’s Veo can help generate a customizable video from audio files.
Fostering connections between artists and their fans
Fandom moves music culture and powers artists careers, so we’re creating new opportunities to connect artists with their fans.
On YouTube Music, you’ll see the option to countdown to upcoming new releases and pre-save your favorites. And across YouTube, we’re building tools that let artists reward and connect with their top fans through exclusive merch, “thank you” videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and other just-for-fans content. Read more here.
Building brand to creator relationships
We’re adding updates to brand deals and Shopping to make brand collaborations easier than ever. We're accelerating these deals through a new initiative and new product features to make sure those partnerships succeed - like the ability to add a link to a brand's site in Shorts. And YouTube Shopping is expanding to more markets and merchants and getting help from AI to make tagging easier. Learn more about these updates here.
As we look ahead to the future we are committed to empowering creators, fostering community, and continuing to redefine how the world watches, listens, and connects. We can't wait to see what we create together in the next 20 years.