YouTube Undergoes Major Overhaul, More AI-Edited Content

Jakarta - YouTube users can now create their own AI avatars for YouTube Shorts. This is part of the app update announced earlier this year.

“The avatar feature gives users an easier way to include themselves safely and comfortably in videos,” YouTube said, quoted from 9to5Google, Friday (10/4/2026).

The avatar can be used for appearance and voice in Shorts. YouTube creates it with realistic photos because it uses the user’s photos to make the avatar.

To create an avatar, users can use the YouTube app and YouTube Create. Users will be asked to take a selfie by recording and voice to read some prompts.

Each creation with prompts will last 8 seconds. Users only need to do the setup process once and can edit it to update the appearance.

All videos and audio are only used for avatar creation. So others cannot use them for the Shorts they create.

In addition, users can delete the avatar at any time. Meanwhile, YouTube will automatically delete it after three years of inactivity.

However, it should be noted that uploaded videos containing the avatar will still be available. To remove them, users need to delete the existing clips.

The feature has been launched globally for users aged 18 and above on a gradual basis. Availability in the coming days.

Here is how to create a video with an avatar on YouTube:

• Open the YouTube app.

• Open the create icon or plus sign (+).

• Tap the Gemini icon.

• Select Create Video and Create Video with my avatar to enter prompts.

• You can also create it in the Remix menu > Reimagine > Add me to this scene.