Big Tech CompaniesConfidence 95%4 sources9 Apr 2026, 2:26 pm
YouTube Shorts Now Lets You Create Your Own Deepfake Videos
YouTube can scan your face and voice to generate realistic deepfakes of yourself.
PCMag LatestEngadgetTimes Now Tech & Science
Google introduces AI-generated avatars to YouTube Shorts
A new feature that lets you create an AI avatar with your likeness is now live on YouTube. First announced in a blog post earlier this year, avatars are designed to be used in Shorts (provided you still allow them to show up), allowing you to insert yourself into video content in a way that YouTube deems to be safe and secure. YouTube's approach to combatting the AI sloppification of the internet and the proliferation of deepfakes appears to be adding more and more AI features to its platform, framing this latest addition as a tool that gives creators more control of their digital identities. Any video generated using an avatar will feature YouTube's AI disclosure and include visible watermarks and labels like SynthID and C2PA. YouTube has published a pretty in-depth explainer on how to create and use an avatar in either the YouTube or YouTube Create app, but here's a brief summary of how to do it using the former. Once you've opened AI Playground, you'll be taking a "live selfie" that also records your voice. You can then preview your photorealistic virtual self and either proceed with it or redo the process if you're unhappy with anything. Creating an avatar in the YouTube Create app is broadly similar, but you have to navigate to the My Avatar homepage first. YouTube recommends that you hold your phone at eye level and keep yourself centered as much as possible. Lighting is also important, as is ensuring your whole face is visible, you're in a quiet area, and there's nobody else in the background. You also have to be the account owner to create an avatar, and over the age of 18. Once you have an avatar you like, you simply type in a prompt and wait for the AI to generate a video, which according to 9to5Google can be up to eight seconds long. Alternatively, YouTube will also let you add an avatar to existing "eligible" Shorts by tapping "Remix" and then "Reimagine" with your avatar selected. Avatars can be deleted or retaken whenever you like, as can any video with your avatar in it. You can also limit who's able to remix your videos, but deleting a video with your avatar in it won't also delete the original video, or that avatar from your account. YouTube will automatically delete any avatar that hasn't been used to create new video content for three years. The new avatar feature will roll out gradually, and is the latest in a long line of AI-centric tools and updates YouTube has added to the platform in the last year, including automatic upscaling for low-res videos, automatic editing for creators and an AI-generated carousel for search results. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/google-introduces-ai-generated-avatars-to-youtube-shorts-140222368.html?src=rss
What is happening
YouTube Shorts Now Lets You Create Your Own Deepfake Videos
Repeated reporting is beginning to cohere into a trackable narrative.
Momentum
83%
Confidence trend
93%0
First seen
9 Apr 2026, 6:50 pm
Narrative formation start
Last active
9 Apr 2026, 2:26 pm
Latest confirmed movement
Supporting signals
Evidence that is shaping the theme
These clustered signals are the repeated pieces of reporting that formed the theme. Read them as the evidence layer beneath the broader narrative.
Related articles
Research briefs behind this theme
Open the article-level analysis that gives this theme its evidence, timing, and scenario framing.
Google introduces AI-generated avatars to YouTube Shorts
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 60% and momentum 72%.
High confidence | 95%2 trusted sourcesWatch over 2 to 6 weeksmedium business impact
This Home Robot Can Wake You Up, Clean Your House And Cook Your Food
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 96% and momentum 96%.
High confidence | 95%5 trusted sourcesWatch over 30 to 90 dayshigh business impact
PSA: If you use the Meta AI app, your friends will find out and it will be embarrassing
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 60% and momentum 61%.
High confidence | 95%2 trusted sourcesWatch over 2 to 6 weeksmedium business impact
GameStop Will Give You Extra Cash for Your 'Retro' PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii U
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 45% and momentum 63%.
High confidence | 81%1 trusted sourceWatch over 2 to 6 weekslow business impact
Spotify now lets you turn off all video
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 60% and momentum 72%.
High confidence | 95%2 trusted sourcesWatch over 2 to 6 weeksmedium business impact
You Can Now Clone Yourself on YouTube With an AI Avatar Tool
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 60% and momentum 68%.
High confidence | 95%2 trusted sourcesWatch over 2 to 6 weeksmedium business impact
Made An Error In Instagram Comment? You Can Now Fix It, Here's How
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 60% and momentum 66%.
High confidence | 95%2 trusted sourcesWatch over 2 to 6 weeksmedium business impact
Google Gemini AI Can Now Show You How Things Work In Real Time
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 90% and momentum 96%.
High confidence | 95%4 trusted sourcesWatch over 30 to 90 dayshigh business impact
IKEA just launched a tiny motion-sensitive light that you can stick anywhere - and you can get two for $5 right now
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 75% and momentum 83%.
High confidence | 95%3 trusted sourcesWatch over 30 to 90 dayshigh business impact
Those 90-second YouTube ads you saw? YouTube says they don't exist
Multiple trusted reports are pointing to the same directional technology shift, suggesting the market should read this as a category signal rather than isolated headline activity.
What may happen next
Prediction says this signal will translate into sharper competitive positioning over the next two quarters.
Signal profile
Source support 96% and momentum 96%.
High confidence | 95%5 trusted sourcesWatch over 30 to 90 dayshigh business impact
Parent topic
Category hub for this theme
Move one level up to the topic page when you want broader market context around this theme.
Related themes
Themes connected to this narrative
These adjacent themes share category context or entity overlap with the current narrative.
emergingstabilizing
Big Tech Companies
Google introduces AI-generated avatars to YouTube Shorts
A new feature that lets you create an AI avatar with your likeness is now live on YouTube. First announced in a blog post earlier this year, avatars are designed to be used in Shorts (provided you still allow them to show up), allowing you to insert yourself into video content in a way that YouTube deems to be safe and secure. YouTube's approach to combatting the AI sloppification of the internet and the proliferation of deepfakes appears to be adding more and more AI features to its platform, framing this latest addition as a tool that gives creators more control of their digital identities. Any video generated using an avatar will feature YouTube's AI disclosure and include visible watermarks and labels like SynthID and C2PA. YouTube has published a pretty in-depth explainer on how to create and use an avatar in either the YouTube or YouTube Create app, but here's a brief summary of how to do it using the former. Once you've opened AI Playground, you'll be taking a "live selfie" that also records your voice. You can then preview your photorealistic virtual self and either proceed with it or redo the process if you're unhappy with anything. Creating an avatar in the YouTube Create app is broadly similar, but you have to navigate to the My Avatar homepage first. YouTube recommends that you hold your phone at eye level and keep yourself centered as much as possible. Lighting is also important, as is ensuring your whole face is visible, you're in a quiet area, and there's nobody else in the background. You also have to be the account owner to create an avatar, and over the age of 18. Once you have an avatar you like, you simply type in a prompt and wait for the AI to generate a video, which according to 9to5Google can be up to eight seconds long. Alternatively, YouTube will also let you add an avatar to existing "eligible" Shorts by tapping "Remix" and then "Reimagine" with your avatar selected. Avatars can be deleted or retaken whenever you like, as can any video with your avatar in it. You can also limit who's able to remix your videos, but deleting a video with your avatar in it won't also delete the original video, or that avatar from your account. YouTube will automatically delete any avatar that hasn't been used to create new video content for three years. The new avatar feature will roll out gradually, and is the latest in a long line of AI-centric tools and updates YouTube has added to the platform in the last year, including automatic upscaling for low-res videos, automatic editing for creators and an AI-generated carousel for search results. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/google-introduces-ai-generated-avatars-to-youtube-shorts-140222368.html?src=rss
Latest signal
Those 90-second YouTube ads you saw? YouTube says they don't exist
Momentum
86%
Confidence
95%
Flat
Signals
1
Briefs
13
risingstabilizing
Big Tech Companies
Chrome Adds Vertical Tabs and New Immersive Reading Mode for Easier Browsing
Google says this update builds on the earlier reading mode, which sat in a side panel.
Latest signal
Chrome Adds Vertical Tabs and New Immersive Reading Mode for Easier Browsing
Momentum
90%
Confidence
93%
Flat
Signals
4
Briefs
11
risingaccelerating
Big Tech Companies
How to use Google Gemini's new AI shopping features in India: Check step-by-step guide
Google has introduced new AI shopping features in India across the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, and Circle to Search. Users can shop more efficiently with seamless transitions, product comparisons, and easy identification of items across platforms.
Latest signal
Huge changes are coming to Xbox Achievements, including new visuals, 'more control over how your accomplishments are presented', and the ability to highlight your 100% completed games
Momentum
84%
Confidence
93%
+14
Signals
4
Briefs
105