YouTube reveals its strategy for 2026: creative AI, new ways to make money, and more control for parents
The world’s largest video platform seeks to transform home entertainment and strengthen safety tools for families.
YouTube is no longer just a video site; it has become the epicenter of modern culture and entertainment. At the start of 2026, the company’s CEO, Neal Mohan, presented its roadmap focused on four pillars: content reinvention, child protection, economic support for creators, and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence. With an investment that already exceeds $100 billion paid to creators over the last four years, the goal is clear: to consolidate its position as the “new television.”
How will this change the way we watch television and short videos?
Content consumption is definitely migrating to the living room. According to Nielsen data, YouTube is the leading platform in terms of playback time on TV screens. To improve this experience, the company will launch a fully customizable “Multiview” feature, allowing users to watch multiple channels at once, as well as offering more than 10 specialized plans on YouTube TV covering sports and news.
On the other hand, the famous Shorts are not far behind. With an average of 200 billion views per day, they will now integrate image posts directly into the feed to make interaction with creators more seamless. The goal is for users to find everything in one place, regardless of screen size.
What tools will parents have to care for their children?
Child safety is a top priority this year. YouTube wants parents, not governments, to have the final say on what their children watch. Among the most important new features are:
- Timer for Shorts: for the first time, parents will be able to limit the time their children spend watching short videos, even setting the time to zero if they wish.
- Profile management: It will be easier to create accounts for children and share them among family profiles to ensure that content is age-appropriate.
- Safe learning: With 93% of young people using the platform to learn new skills, controls on YouTube Kids and supervised experiences will be strengthened.
How will Artificial Intelligence help creators?
AI is not here to replace people, but to be a “creative ally.” YouTube will implement tools that will allow users to create short videos using a simple image or even generate games using text instructions. Work is also being done on accessibility: more than 6 million users already use AI-powered automatic dubbing to understand videos in other languages.
To combat these risks, the platform will apply clear labels to synthetic content and use advanced systems to curb “AI slop” or low-quality content. In addition, artists will be given tools to manage the use of their image, protecting their identity from the infamous deepfakes.
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Without a doubt, 2026 will be an important year for the platform, and with these changes, there will be more tools for content creators to exploit their creativity.
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