YouTube Introduces AI Tagging and New Shopping Tools for Creators
Key Points
- AI product tagging automatically identifies and tags items mentioned in videos.
- Brand links in Shorts let creators direct viewers to product pages.
- Swappable ad segments enable creators to resell sponsorship slots.
- Top viewers can purchase exclusive merch from creators in experimental trials.
- New livestream and AI tools are slated for future release.
- Testing begins early next year; broader rollouts expected through 2026.
YouTube announced a suite of features aimed at turning the platform into a more robust shopping channel. The updates include AI‑powered product tagging that can automatically identify and label items mentioned in videos, brand links embedded in Shorts that direct viewers to product pages, and a system for swapping ad segments so creators can resell sponsorship slots. Testing for these tools is slated to begin early next year, with broader rollouts expected through 2026. Additional experiments will let top viewers purchase exclusive merch from creators, and the platform also hinted at upcoming livestream and AI enhancements for content creators.
AI‑Powered Product Tagging
YouTube disclosed that an artificial‑intelligence tagging feature will soon be available to eligible U.S. creators. The system can automatically locate and tag products referenced in videos by analyzing images, voiceovers, and creator‑provided information. This capability is designed to streamline the process of linking viewers to items featured in content.
Brand Links in Shorts
Another announced feature enables creators to embed direct links to brand websites within YouTube Shorts. Testing for these links will start later this year, with a broad launch planned for the following year. The addition aims to give short‑form video viewers an immediate path to purchase recommended products.
Swappable Ad Segments
YouTube is also rolling out support for dynamically inserting brand segments that can be swapped in and out of videos. This flexible ad model allows creators to resell sponsorship slots to different brands over time, rather than being locked into a single long‑form product placement. Early testing of this capability is expected next year, with full deployment anticipated by 2026.
Exclusive Merch for Top Viewers
An experimental feature will give top viewers the opportunity to buy exclusive merchandise from their favorite creators. While the test began earlier this year, YouTube has not provided a timeline for a wider release.
Livestream and Additional AI Enhancements
The announcement also referenced upcoming changes to YouTube’s livestreaming experience, as well as new AI tools designed to assist creators in various aspects of content production. Specific details about these enhancements were not disclosed.
Testing and Rollout Timeline
According to the announcement, the AI tagging feature will be rolled out to eligible U.S. creators over the next year. Brand links in Shorts will begin testing later this year and launch broadly the following year. Swappable ad segments are slated for early testing next year, with a broader rollout scheduled for 2026.