YouTube Shorts is introducing new features aimed at enhancing creators’ ability to produce engaging short-form videos, in an effort to bolster its competitiveness with TikTok. The platform will offer an upgraded video editor, the capability to create AI stickers, a tool for syncing video content with song beats, improved templates, and other enhancements.
The release of these tools is scheduled just before the April 5 TikTok ban deadline. This timing suggests that YouTube is attempting to attract creators to its platform and fill any gap that might arise if TikTok is banned in the United States.
According to YouTube, the new video editor will enable users to easily adjust clip timing, manipulate clips to generate a preliminary version, integrate music or timed text, and preview the final Short to ensure the intended story is conveyed. YouTube plans further enhancements to its editing capabilities in the future, noting that a better video editor has been a frequent request from Shorts creators.
As TikTok is renowned for its extensive editing tools, YouTube’s decision to provide creators with similar features is logical. This launch also holds significance as Meta is reportedly close to unveiling an “Edits” app designed to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut.
The new AI Stickers feature will allow creators to generate custom stickers with a simple text prompt. One example provided by YouTube showed a user generating an AI sticker depicting “a strong plant with muscles.”
Additionally, YouTube Shorts will introduce functionality for creators to incorporate image stickers into videos. For instance, creators can offer outfit inspiration by uploading photos from their camera roll and transforming them into image stickers.
Furthermore, an upcoming feature will enable creators to select a song and have their video clips automatically synchronized to the music’s beat, eliminating the previous need for manual synchronization. This tool appears similar to CapCut’s “Beats” feature, which also auto-syncs music to clips.
Moreover, YouTube intends to enhance its templates, allowing users to utilize photos from their gallery and apply effects within templates. Given the popularity of effects on TikTok, exploring similar options on YouTube Shorts is sensible, as they often play a role in trend creation.
These new features are anticipated to be rolled out over the coming months.
