YouTube Set to Become Top Media Company In U.S. With New AI Features - 1

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YouTube Set to Become Top Media Company In U.S. With New AI Features

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

YouTube celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Made event, announcing new features and products for content creators. The platform has become the most popular way to watch TV in the United States and is projected to surpass Disney in media revenue this year.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • For its 20th anniversary, YouTube announced new AI features and products for content creators.
  • The company said it has paid over $100 billion to creators since 2021.
  • YouTube is expected to surpass Disney, the industry leader in media revenue, this year.

According to its recent announcement , YouTube is innovating for the next decade by introducing new AI tools for content creators. Among them are new options for Shorts designed to help users produce more creative content.

“We’ve started integrating Google DeepMind’s Veo 3 Fast into YouTube Shorts so you can easily create video backgrounds or clips with sound,” said Johanna Voolich, YouTube’s Chief Product Officer. “ And new capabilities powered by Veo allow you to apply motion, restyle videos, and add props to your scenes.”

Users will also be able to upload raw footage and generate a first draft, as well as transform speech into songs using AI.

YouTube added new tools to YouTube Studio, including Create Collaborations to expand reach, and Ask Studio to deliver better insights through data. The YouTube Partner Program will include a likeness detection tool so that creators can see if other videos are using AI to impersonate them.

The platform will focus on live content, including efforts to reimagine modern TV. “On average, over 30% of daily logged-in YouTube viewers watched live content in Q2 2025 alone,” noted Voolich. To support creators, YouTube will roll out discovery features, practice modes before going live, and new monetization options such as side-by-side ads and members-only livestreams.

The company acknowledges users’ value and creativity and said it has paid over $100 billion in the past four years to content creators.

According to Reuters , YouTube is set to surpass Disney, the industry leader in media revenue in the United States, this year. The company has also expanded its reach. “YouTube captured 13.4% of U.S. viewership in July, versus 9.4% for Disney,” states the report.

Last year, YouTube announced redesigns for its platform , a hub for creators, and other AI-powered features such as image generation for Shorts and realistic backgrounds.

Zoom Announches AI Companion 3.0 With Avatars and Voice Translation - 2

Image by Chris Montgomery, from Unsplash

Zoom Announches AI Companion 3.0 With Avatars and Voice Translation

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Zoom has announced AI Companion 3.0 as the new AI assistant for Zoom Workplace.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • The update introduces photorealistic avatars that mimic user movements.
  • Live camera authentication will prevent avatar misuse.
  • Real-time voice translation expands to 18 languages.

Zoom says that the updated AI Companion system brings forth enhanced “agentic” capabilities, which enable users to convert discussions into work assignments, and schedule meetings automatically.

It can also take notes automatically which function across Zoom meetings, traditional meetings, as well as third-party platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet platforms.

“Around the world, millions of people are using Zoom to connect with their colleagues and customers, but they could be getting so much more out of those conversations with the help of AI,” said Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom.

“AI Companion 3.0 will provide deeper insights from their conversations to help them get more done at work and drive better business outcomes, regardless of whether they’re working in Zoom Workplace, in person, or across compatible apps and integrations,” Hashim added.

The upcoming December 2025 release will introduce photorealistic AI avatars as an eye-catching meeting feature. The system creates digital avatars from user photos which they can then personalize with business attire , tracking the user’s real-time movements.

The system includes two security features: “live camera authentication”, and visible “in-meeting tile notices”, aimed at stopping unauthorized use.

Hashim explained: “This feature remains in development, and specific enrollment and authentication processes may change before general availability,” as reported by The Verge .

Zoom will also launch real-time voice translation this December, allowing participants to hear speakers in their chosen language, with support for English, German, Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, and Italian.

Finally, other updates include a custom AI agent builder, group assistant features, proactive meeting recommendations, and improved video quality.