YouTube Premium subscribers are in for a treat this month with the introduction of five new features, two of which are immediately available and three that are part of an experimental program.
While many users primarily subscribe to YouTube Premium to avoid ads, these new features add extra value to the subscription.
Let’s explore what’s new:
1. “Jump Ahead” Button
Leveraging AI and viewership data, YouTube has introduced a smart “Jump Ahead” button. When you double-tap to skip ahead in a video, this new button appears, allowing you to jump to parts of the video that are likely to be of interest. This feature is available now for Android users, with iOS users getting access in the coming weeks.
2. Picture-in-Picture for Shorts
YouTube Shorts viewers can now multitask more easily with the introduction of picture-in-picture functionality. This allows you to continue watching Shorts while using other apps or browsing the web, keeping your favorite short-form content in view at all times.
3. Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts (Experimental)
Similar to the smart download feature for regular YouTube videos, this experimental feature automatically downloads fresh Shorts content to your device in the background. This ensures you have a selection of Shorts available for offline viewing when you’re without an internet connection.
4. Conversational AI (Experimental)
This feature, which has been reintroduced for US Android users, allows you to interact with AI while watching videos. You can ask questions about the content or get suggestions without interrupting your viewing experience, enhancing the way you engage with YouTube videos.
5. Redesigned Watch Page (Experimental)
YouTube is offering an opt-in redesign of the watch page. While some users who previously experienced this redesign had mixed reactions, YouTube is now allowing Premium subscribers to try it out voluntarily. The new design may take some getting used to, but it could offer an improved viewing experience for some users.
To access the experimental features, Premium subscribers can visit youtube.com/new and opt-in to try them out.
These new features demonstrate YouTube’s commitment to enhancing the Premium experience beyond ad-free viewing.
By introducing AI-powered navigation, improved multitasking capabilities, and smarter offline content access, YouTube is working to make its Premium subscription more valuable to users.
