YouTube
YouTube is rolling out a major AI upgrade that could change how creators make content by letting them post videos without ever stepping in front of a camera.
The platform is introducing AI-powered avatars that look and sound like real creators, allowing users to generate Shorts using a digital version of themselves, similar to a VTuber.
These avatars are designed to replicate a creator’s face and voice, effectively acting as a digital twin that can appear in videos on their behalf.
“Avatars create a digital version of yourself so you can generate videos that look and sound like you, safely and securely,” YouTube states.
YouTube doubles down on AI with new avatar feature
Early versions of the tool require users to record a “live selfie” to build the avatar, which can then be used to generate short clips. These videos are typically limited in length and can be inserted into Shorts or used to create entirely new ones.
Once the avatar is created, users can type a prompt to generate a full video. The platform gave the following prompt as an example: “I am flying high in the sky, up above the clouds saying I can fly!”
YouTube is also putting safeguards in place. AI-generated videos will be clearly labeled and watermarked, with digital markers to prevent misuse or deepfakes. The avatars can only be used by the creator who made them, and unused avatars may be deleted after a set period.
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The rollout is gradual, with access initially limited to eligible creators, including age restrictions and channel requirements.
This isn’t YouTube’s first AI push. The platform already offers tools like auto-dubbing, AI-generated clips, and analytics assistants, but avatars mark a significant step forward by putting creators themselves into the AI workflow.
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For creators, it opens the door to faster uploads and new formats. For viewers, it raises bigger questions about authenticity and how much of what they’re watching is actually real.
Interestingly, this comes just weeks after YouTube began to poll users asking if certain content “feels like AI slop.”
Last month, education experts raised alarms over AI YouTube videos designed for kids, warning that they contain dangerous messaging such as teaching children to play in traffic or eat toxic foods.
