YouTube Adds Auto Captions When Muted, New AI Feature

02/10/26
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of YouTube Introduces Auto-Captions on Mute, AI Animation for Images, and Personalized Playlists for Subscribers

YouTube now automatically enables captions when videos are muted on mobile, enhancing user experience during silent viewing. The platform has launched an AI-powered animation feature allowing users to turn still images into short animated clips for Shorts. Additionally, YouTube Premium and Music subscribers can generate personalized playlists using advanced AI, streamlining music discovery and curation.

Optimixed’s Overview: Enhancing User Engagement with YouTube’s Latest AI and Accessibility Features

Automatic Captions Improve Silent Viewing

YouTube’s new feature automatically activates captions when users mute videos on mobile devices, ensuring uninterrupted content consumption in noise-sensitive environments. This setting is enabled by default and can be customized in caption preferences, though it currently excludes Shorts.

AI-Driven Animation Brings Images to Life

The “Add Motion” option for Shorts allows users to transform still images into 8-second animated clips using preset effects. This innovation leverages generative AI to create playful digital “puppets,” although its long-term popularity remains uncertain. The feature is broadly available except in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the U.K.

Personalized Playlists Powered by AI for Subscribers

  • YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscribers gain access to AI-generated playlists tailored to their music preferences.
  • Users prompt the AI by specifying desired music types, and the system curates selections based on this input.
  • This evolution from previous AI radio tests aims to enhance music discovery, though its success depends on user input clarity and the AI’s understanding.

Overall, these updates reflect YouTube’s strategic push towards integrating AI technologies and accessibility improvements to enrich user engagement and subscription value.