YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced today the platform's 2024 strategic direction, focusing on artificial intelligence, enhancing the role of content creators, improving user safety, and expanding into living room entertainment and subscription models. This vision aims to leverage artificial intelligence to promote creative expression and simplify content creation, while also recognizing the evolving role of creators in reshaping the entertainment landscape.
YouTube has successfully turned the living room into a primary venue for content consumption, with global viewers watching over 1 billion hours of YouTube content on television every day. This trend has been supported by a significant increase in creators, with the majority of their viewing time now coming from large screens, growing over 400% in the past three years. YouTube TV has over 8 million subscribers, and music and paid subscribers exceed 100 million, with expectations of further enhancing subscriptions and living room viewing experience by 2024.
Empowering YouTube Creators with AI
The centerpiece of YouTube's 2024 strategy is democratizing content creation through artificial intelligence. Initiatives such as Dream Screen and Dream Tracks reflect YouTube's commitment to reducing the complexity of content creation, allowing creators to generate AI-driven backgrounds for YouTube Shorts and explore new possibilities in music. Shorts now average over 70 billion daily views, with a 50% increase in channels uploading Shorts, setting new standards for content creation and engagement on YouTube.
Mohan also emphasized the transformation of YouTube creators into the "next generation studios," entertaining global audiences and redefining the entertainment industry through their innovative storytelling. Despite their significant contributions, creators often go unrecognized in official labor statistics. YouTube aims to change this situation by advocating for recognition and acknowledgment of creators in industry forums.
Financially, the YouTube Partner Program is the most profitable platform for creator monetization, having distributed over $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies in the past three years. The platform has witnessed a significant increase in membership usage, highlighting the growing importance of fan funding.
With its broad vision, YouTube is committed to ensuring a safe and high-quality content environment. This commitment extends to providing a healthy online experience for children and connecting users with reliable information, especially in the context of global elections. YouTube's dedication to safety, coupled with its initiatives in artificial intelligence, support for creators, and focus on living room and subscriptions, highlights its holistic approach to leading the future of digital entertainment beyond 2024.
