YouTube is rolling out several new features for Shorts, its short-form video product, as competition with TikTok and Reels intensifies. According to TechCrunch, YouTube’s Chief Product Officer, Johanna Voolich, unveiled six new tools to assist creators in making Shorts.
These include features to convert longer videos into Shorts and tools to inspire content creation, such as an “Add Yours” sticker that encourages users to share content related to a creator’s video.
Voolich emphasized how accessible creating Shorts is, thanks to the tools that simplify the process for everyone. Among these are two tools specifically designed for enhancing audio and speech in videos.
One tool offers the ability to generate captions automatically, which can then be customized with various fonts and colors. Another tool provides users with four different voice options for text narration, allowing for greater personalization in their Shorts.
In addition to the “Add Yours” sticker, two new effects celebrate Minecraft‘s 15th anniversary. “Minecraft Spring” allows filming within Minecraft’s world, while “Minecraft Rush” adds a mini-game where users tap to clear blocks quickly and share their videos to see who’s fastest.
A standout feature is the auto layout tool, coming soon, which helps creators turn regular videos into Shorts by automatically tracking and dynamically adjusting the video’s main subject. Initially available on Android, this builds on last year’s tools for creating Shorts from long-form content.
Another new tool allows creators to remix remixes. Previously, remixes could only be made from original long-form or Shorts videos. Now, creators can also remix existing remixes, provided the original creator has allowed it.
Voolich mentioned that Shorts now garner 70 billion daily views, the same figure reported last September. She also hinted at the possibility of testing Shorts longer than 60 seconds, as users express interest in varying lengths. Meanwhile, YouTube has indicated that some of the new features for Shorts are already rolling out, while others will be available soon.
