DexertoYouTube is rolling out new features aimed at boosting creator reach and engagement, with AI-powered highlights set to transform livestream content into ready-made Shorts.
The platform announced that its latest update will automatically identify standout moments from live broadcasts, turning them into shareable vertical clips. These AI-generated highlights mean creators can keep audiences engaged even after streams end, without manually editing footage.
The AI-powered highlight tool is designed to bridge live and short-form content, helping creators capture more viewers while extending the life of each broadcast. Shorts have become a central part of YouTube’s growth strategy, and automating their creation positions livestreams as a direct driver of short-form discovery.
YouTubeYouTube’s focus on discoverability
The feature builds on YouTube’s push to expand discoverability tools for creators. Alongside highlights, the company will allow simultaneous streaming in horizontal and vertical formats, combining audiences into a single unified chat.
YouTube launched shorts streaming back in February 2024, and gave creators the ability to stream in both landscape and vertical formats at the same time. But, until now, creators had to focus on two different chats in order to keep up with both streams.
The company is also expanding a pilot feature that lets creators react live to other streams directly from mobile, creating a shared viewing experience across events.
Alongside the new AI highlighting feature, YouTube revealed that it has paid over $100 billion to creators around the world since 2021.