Creators scrolling through YouTube Shorts may soon encounter something new: AI-generated versions of the creators they already follow, according to reporting by TechCrunch. In an annual letter published Wednesday, Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, said the platform plans to let creators produce Shorts using their own likeness.
“This year you’ll be able to create a Short using your own likeness, produce games with a simple text prompt, and experiment with music,” Mohan wrote. “Throughout this evolution, AI will remain a tool for expression, not a replacement.”
The announcement underscores YouTube’s continued push behind Shorts, which Mohan said now averages 200 billion daily views. Shorts has become one of the platform’s most heavily used formats, and YouTube has steadily expanded its feature set to keep creators and viewers engaged. While the company did not share specifics about how likeness-based Shorts will work, the capability will sit alongside existing AI tools already available to creators, including AI-generated video clips, stickers, automatic dubbing, and other features designed to speed up production.
Mohan also said creators will be given new controls to manage how their likeness is used in AI-generated content. The move builds on safeguards YouTube has already begun rolling out. Although creators will be able to opt into using their own likeness, the platform has taken steps to prevent unauthorized use by others. Last October, YouTube introduced likeness-detection technology for eligible creators, allowing them to identify AI-generated videos that replicate their face or voice and request takedowns.
As AI-generated content becomes easier to produce across social platforms, YouTube has faced growing pressure to balance experimentation with quality control. Mohan acknowledged that openness to new formats has long been part of YouTube’s DNA, but said that approach requires stronger moderation as tools evolve.
“Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose any preconceived notions on the creator ecosystem,” Mohan wrote. “Today, once-odd trends like ASMR and watching other people play video games are mainstream hits. But with this openness comes a responsibility to maintain the high quality viewing experience that people want. To reduce the spread of low quality AI content, we’re actively building on our established systems that have been very successful in combatting spam and clickbait, and reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content.”
Beyond AI-powered features, YouTube is also preparing to broaden what Shorts can look like. The company plans to introduce new formats such as image posts, mirroring features that have gained traction on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Together, the changes signal YouTube’s intent to keep Shorts competitive while tightening controls around how new generative tools are used.
