YouTube boasts about 2.70 billion active users, as it is the second-biggest social platform after Facebook. Every day, more than 122 million people log in to watch and engage with content. 

Its premium services shouldn’t be underestimated, as Premium now has more than 125 million subscribers, and YouTube TV around 9.4 million, according to data from Limelight Digital. 

The growing number of users and subscribers showcases YouTube’s popularity, value, and success. However, once a service has that many users, it becomes another challenge to keep them happy. 

The competition among social platforms and streaming services is aggressive, and technology companies are constantly coming up with new tactics to retain current and attract new users. The race is especially aggressive now amid the AI boom. 

Over the last few months, YouTube TV has announced several moves in an effort to satisfy its user base. 

In September, YouTube unveiled major creator tools at Made on YouTube 2025, according to its official announcement. These include generative features powered by Google DeepMind’s Veo 3, such as AI-generated video backgrounds, motion effects, props insertion, and “Edit with AI,” which turns raw clips into a first-draft video. 

Earlier this month, YouTube rolled out a feature enabling more creators a way to test how different titles perform on their videos, expanding the tool in YouTube Studio to all creators with access to advanced features and making it easier to choose the best titles, according to The Verge. 

In the latest development, YouTube rolled out an important upgrade for viewers and creators.

YouTube introduces 30-second voice replies to comments, improving the experience for millions of creators.

Image source: Shutterstock

YouTube rolls out recorded voice comments on videos and more 

YouTube introduces 30-second voice replies to comments, improving the experience for millions of creators. The recorded voice reply is currently available exclusively on a creator’s own video and shorts, allowing channel owners to record and post short audio responses directly below viewer comments, reported Cord Cutters News. 

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan shared the news on X (previously Twitter), adding that the YouTube team continues to strive relentlessly to improve its services. 

New YouTube features:

• Respond to comments with a 30-second voice reply on your own videos and Shorts.
• Get a series of ideas from the Inspiration Tab instead of a single suggestion. 
• Watch Shorts and livestreams in landscape mode.
• Create images and videos with sound in the YouTube Create app, powered by a custom version of the Veo 3 Fast model.

This is the first time YouTube has enabled native audio interaction outside of full video uploads, allowing for a more personal alternative to typing long replies or filing entire reply videos, points out Cord Cutters News’ Luke Bouma. 

YouTube adds “Generate with Sound” tool to YouTube Create editing app 

Creating images and videos with sound or “Generate with Sound” tool appears to be the most technically challenging upgrade. It enables mobile creators to make short video clips with synchronized audio directly from text prompts. 

The tool is supported by Google’s Veo 3 Fast video generation model. Users can type a description, select duration (up to 8 seconds), and select a style. The app then creates a clip with a suitable background music, sound effect, and lip-synced speech when needed. 

The outlet further indicates that early internet testing revealed the tool reduces average Shorts production time by more than half for creators who regularly use AI elements.

YouTube creators signal a serious problem 

Below Mohan’s X post announcing the new upgrades appear numerous comments, with a significant number of them highlighting certain problems. 

Namely, a number of users complained about YouTube’s AI system, arguing that it is mistakenly terminating their channels. 

“A growing number of YouTubers are reporting a disturbing trend: long-running, well-established channels vanishing from the platform overnight with no clear explanation. These aren’t small channels or new creators, they’re channels with years of uploads, hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and spotless community guidelines records,” Times of India previously reported. 

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• HBO Max unveils new way to watch beloved shows
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• YouTube TV unveils generous new offers for subscribers

Several creators and media outlets have suggested that that YouTube’s AI system is overly aggressive when moderating content, falsely marking some channels as spam or as offering deceptive content. 

X user Ryan commented below Mohan’s announcement on new upgrades, saying “I wish I could use the feature, but my channel was terminated Dec. 4. I’ve made videos since 2006. I was told appeals take 1-2 days, then told longer. Support said they were checking, then my appeal was instantly denied. This AI system is broken.” 

A number of people echoed the statement, arguing that YouTube AI is “deleting people’s hard work.”

YouTube states that content is flagged by a combination of automated detection systems and human reporting, and that appeals exist precisely because automated detections can be imperfect. Creators whose content is mistakenly removed or restricted have the opportunity to appeal, according to YouTube Community Guidelines.

Overall, as YouTube pushes hard to lead the pack when it comes to video platforms, especially at times of heavy competition coming from TikTok and Instagram Reels, long-time YouTube creators have uncovered a major issue that needs to be addressed. 

Related: Amazon Prime Video drops new feature after subscriber backlash