YouTube has outlined a new range of experimental features which it will begin testing with YouTube Premium subscribers, and could soon make their way to the main app, adding more control and access options.
YouTube enables Premium subscribers to sign up to try its experimental features, which may or may not ever become fully-fledged elements. That also points to where it’s looking to develop new tools, including AI functionality, providing a window into YouTube’s engineering pipeline, and what it thinks will benefit the user experience.
This time around, YouTube’s launching a test of high quality audio, with Premium members able to try out new audio enhancements, like 256kbps audio on music videos, offering more clarity and depth.
It's also testing out AI -generated radio stations in YouTube Music, which enable users to describe what they want to hear, which YouTube's AI will use as the guide to formulate a tracklisting.
YouTube Music has been a popular addition to YouTube’s subscription suite, with YouTube Premium and Music surpassing 100 million subscribers combined early last year.
The addition of higher quality audio will no-doubt appeal Music users, enabling them to tune into the latest tracks via the best listening experience.
YouTube’s also testing picture-in-picture for YouTube Shorts on iOS, as well as smart downloads for selected Shorts, ensuring faster response when viewing.
On another front, YouTube’s also expanding testing of its “Jump ahead” functionality, with web users now also able to try out the option.
YouTube originally launched jump ahead with mobile users last March, which uses AI-based detection to help users skip ahead to the most-watched parts of any video.
Given the short attention spans of modern viewers, that could be a popular option, enabling you to consume more content in less time, which is also the lure of this final experimental element.
YouTube’s also adding more playback speed options, with users now able to view content at up to 4x regular speed.
I mean, I can’t imagine that you’re going to be able to take-in the full detail of what’s being said at 4x speed, but maybe, for some users, this will be a valuable option.
These are interesting tests, which could lead to all-new use case options for YouTube content, and provide more control over the user experience.
In addition to this, YouTube’s parent company Google is also offering a new Google One package deal, which will mean that Google One subscribers will also get YouTube Premium within the offering.
That could help to boost YouTube Premium numbers, though it is also worth noting that YouTube increased the price of YouTube Premium across the board in September last year, which could impact broader take-up.
Maybe, then, offering package deals is a way to maintain YouTube Premium growth, despite any potential impacts, and there are some other enticing elements of YouTube Premium, including ad-free viewing and audio-only listening.
And now, you also get access to these add-on experiments, which will be available to Premium subscribers for a limited time.
You can learn more about YouTube’s experiments here.
English (US) ·