YouTube unveils new AI tools, learning partnerships to drive India’s creative and knowledge economies

YouTube has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities, creator support systems and digital learning initiatives as part of a strategy that positions India at the centre of its global innovation roadmap. The announcements were made at the annual YouTube Impact Summit , held on Monday, 17 November 2025 , where the company also released new economic impact findings from Oxford Economics.

According to the report, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed over ₹16,000 crore to India’s GDP in 2024 and supported more than 9.3 lakh full-time equivalent jobs , highlighting the platform’s growing role as an economic engine within India’s fast-expanding digital economy. Gunjan Soni, Managing Director of YouTube India, said YouTube’s impact goes far beyond viewership metrics. “Our impact isn’t just about views; it’s about livelihoods and shared economic growth. We see this when 63 per cent of our monetising creators say YouTube is their primary source of revenue. Our responsibility is to provide the infrastructure that helps creators turn talent into opportunity,” she said.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised YouTube’s role in amplifying India’s cultural identity globally. “India’s culture is our greatest treasure, and digital platforms like YouTube are vital to sharing it with the world. When creators highlight regional arts, celebrate local artisans or bring our monuments alive, they become digital ambassadors of our heritage. This synergy is essential to expanding India’s creative economy and showcasing our cultural tapestry internationally,” he said.

A significant focus of the Summit was strengthening India’s digital learning ecosystem. With 98 per cent of Indian users reportedly turning to YouTube for information and knowledge, the company announced a landmark partnership with the newly established Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) . The collaboration aims to train the next generation of creators in high-growth areas including animation, gaming, visual effects and extended-reality storytelling. The partnership includes industry-led workshops, AI-supported content development and assistance in building IICT’s official YouTube channel.

In the healthcare domain, YouTube is teaming up with the College of Nursing at AIIMS to make professional nursing courses available on the platform. The courses covering wound care, infection control and other core competencies are expected to significantly expand access to medical training for aspiring and practising nurses across the country.

YouTube also unveiled a suite of new AI-powered tools. Among them is a conversational AI feature integrated directly into the video player, allowing viewers to ask questions and receive instant, contextual responses. Initially available in English, it will soon support Hindi. For creators, YouTube introduced “Edit with AI” within the YouTube Create app, offering automated editing assistance to speed up production workflows.

To promote digital well-being, YouTube is expanding its First Aid shelves in English and Hindi for quick access to credible health information, and is rolling out daily limits on Shorts scrolling , aimed at encouraging healthier screen habits among young users.

In the area of safety, YouTube is strengthening protections against AI misuse by expanding its likeness-detection technology. The tool enables creators to identify and request removal of unauthorised AI-generated or face-altered content that uses their image without consent.

Reaffirming India’s central role in YouTube’s global strategy, Soni said, “The future of the internet is being built right here, and we are proud to be a part of it.”