YouTube rolls out audience targeting and AI-powered video creation for creators

New Delhi: YouTube has announced updates for content creators, including interest-based targeting for its Promote feature and the expansion of AI-powered video tools to Shorts and the YouTube Create app, according to a product update shared by the platform.

The changes are intended to improve communication between creators and YouTube’s internal teams.
One of the main updates is the launch of interest targeting for YouTube Promote. The feature allows creators to target viewers based on categories such as gaming, beauty, or travel, alongside existing options like demographics, countries, and languages. “Creators will now have more control over the audience their promotions are shown to,” the platform said.

Interest categories are determined using aggregated and anonymised signals from activity across Google and YouTube. For instance, users who frequently watch cooking videos or search for recipes may be grouped under food and dining. The feature is currently available on desktop, with plans to expand to mobile.

YouTube clarified that Promote remains optional and separate from organic discovery, and that subscribers or views gained through the feature do not count toward eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program.

The platform also announced that its ‘Ingredients to Video’ tool will now be available for Shorts and the YouTube Create app. The feature allows creators to convert text prompts and reference images into eight-second video clips using AI models.