YouTube is rolling out a series of updates for its Premium users, starting with the addition of smart downloads and picture-in-picture mode for Shorts on Android devices. The platform is also expanding its “Jump Ahead” feature, which allows users to navigate through videos more efficiently.
The “Jump Ahead” feature uses a combination of viewer data and machine learning to identify the most engaging parts of a video and allows users to skip to them with a single tap. This feature has been in testing since last month and is now available to all Android users in the US, with an iOS rollout scheduled for the next few weeks.
In addition to these updates, YouTube is introducing a new experimental feature that allows users to ask a conversational AI tool questions related to a video or request to watch suggested content. This feature was first tested last year and is now available to Android users in the US.
Another new feature, smart download support for Shorts, will automatically download short videos based on a user’s recent viewing history for offline viewing. This feature is also available to Android users in the US.
Furthermore, YouTube is testing a redesigned watch page on its desktop platform, which aims to enhance the overall viewing experience for users.
Notably, YouTube has reported that it has over 100 million paid users across its Premium and Music services worldwide, making these updates a significant step forward for its subscribers.
