YouTube is introducing several new features for Premium users, enhancing the viewing experience with smart downloads and picture-in-picture mode for Shorts, along with a broader rollout of the “Jump Ahead” feature for navigating videos.
Currently, YouTube supports background play and picture-in-picture mode for long-form videos, enabling users to watch content while browsing other apps. The company is now extending picture-in-picture support to Shorts, beginning with Android users.
Additionally, YouTube is adding a “Jump Ahead” button that appears when users double-tap to skip. This button allows users to jump to the best parts of a video, identified through a combination of viewer data and machine learning. After testing the feature for the past month, YouTube is now making it available to all Android users in the U.S., with an iOS rollout planned in the coming weeks.
YouTube is introducing several new features, including a conversational AI tool and smart download support for Shorts, as well as testing a redesigned watch page on the desktop.
One of the new additions is a conversational AI tool that Google first tested last year. This tool allows users to ask the chatbot questions related to the video or request to watch suggested content. The company is now bringing this feature back for Android users in the U.S.
In addition, YouTube is adding smart download support for Shorts. Based on your recent Shorts viewing history, YouTube will automatically download some short videos for offline viewing, making it easier to watch your favorite content without an internet connection.
Moreover, the video streaming platform is testing a redesigned watch page on the desktop, aiming to improve the user experience.