YouTube Shorts creators will soon be able to make content using their own AI likeness
As YouTube lays out what’s ahead for 2026, expect more AI tools, more Shorts features, and more investment into the creator ecosystem.
Creators could soon make AI Shorts of themselves
YouTube has revealed that it plans to let creators make Shorts using their own AI likeness. That means fans could soon be scrolling through Shorts and see AI-generated videos of their favorite creators, posted by the creators themselves.
The announcement comes as part of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s broader vision for the platform in 2026. Focused on powering the creator economy, the upcoming feature is an interesting move that not only opens up creative opportunities but also reopens the all-too-familiar questions around AI when it comes to control, quality, and authenticity.
More Shorts and AI features
In 2026, it appears YouTube is doubling down on its AI tools. In December last year, more than one million channels used YouTube’s AI creation tools daily. This includes features like AI-generated Shorts clips, AI effects, and more.
Soon, creators will also be able to generate Shorts using their own likeness, which only builds on this momentum. But that’s not all. Creators will also be able to produce games with a simple text prompt, and experiment with music.
The move also reflects just how popular Shorts has become on YouTube. Mohan revealed that Shorts averages around 200 billion daily views, making it one of YouTube’s most popular formats. Alongside AI likeness tools, the platform will also be expanding Shorts to include an image-based format that is already popular on Instagram and TikTok.
Importantly though, YouTube is framing AI as an assistive tool, not a replacement. For YouTube, AI tools like these are all about expanding the creative possibilities available for creators on the platform.
What this means for artists and creators: opportunities, protecting likeness, and tackling ‘AI slop’
For the music industry, AI likeness Shorts could become a powerful creative and marketing tool. Details on how it works have not yet been revealed, but in theory, it should make it easier to make content without even requiring you to be on camera. That should enable artists to quickly experiment with ideas and produce content, while letting you focus on the more important aspects of your career like making music.
At the same time, it also raises more concerns over whether creators can truly control how their likeness is used by others. However, YouTube already rolled out likeness-detection technology, allowing eligible creators to identify AI-generated content that uses their face or voice. Creators can also request removals, helping protect against impersonation or unauthorized use.
On the quality side of things, YouTube acknowledges growing concerns around the flood of ‘AI slop’ hitting platforms. The platform doesn’t want to limit creativity though, saying that it has seen “once-odd trends like ASMR” become “mainstream hits” today. Instead, YouTube says it’s building on existing systems designed to combat, spam, clickbait, and repetitive low-quality content.
YouTube’s continued investment in music
Beyond Shorts and AI, YouTube also reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to music. That includes improving music discovery, uncovering the stories behind the songs you love, or making it easier for you to stay updated with your favorite artists.