YouTube has announced the arrival of a series of new exclusive features for its Premium subscribers. These updates will have a great focus on artificial intelligence, to improve the experience of users with content and see what they are really interested in and are looking for on the platform.
Through its blog, Google gave the details of what these improvements include and the app’s commitment to include options for subscribers, in addition to attracting the attention of new users around the world, so these features will be rolled out to everyone.
The new features of YouTube Premium
Among the new additions, the extension of support for background playback stands out, now also available for YouTube Shorts. This feature allows users to continue watching these short videos in a floating format while performing other tasks on their mobile devices.
Additionally, Smart Download for Shorts has been introduced. This feature uses users’ recent viewing history to automatically download some short videos, allowing them to be viewed offline.
Another standout feature is the new “Jump Ahead” button, which appears when users double-tap the screen to skip parts of the video. This tool allows you to jump directly to the most interesting sections of a long video, identified through a combination of audience data and machine learning algorithms. This enhancement makes it easier to access the most relevant moments in a video without having to manually search, significantly improving the viewing experience.
One of the most innovative additions is the integration of an AI-powered chatbot. This virtual assistant can answer questions related to the video content and offer viewing suggestions based on user queries.
This feature is currently available exclusively in the United States and only for specific videos. However, its potential to improve interaction and personalization of the experience is expected to extend to more regions and content types in the future.
Expansion of subscription plans
In parallel to these new features, YouTube has announced that it is working on the expansion of its Premium subscription plans. The company is looking to offer more options to users, expanding existing offerings to more regions and introducing new plans that provide access to the benefits of the paid version at more affordable prices.
They’re also exploring the possibility of rolling out shared plans, similar to Spotify Duo, where users can share a subscription with a family member or close friend.
As for the challenges, YouTube has been dealing with fraudulent schemes by users in the United States who use VPNs to get subscriptions at lower prices available in other regions.
To counter this issue, the company has implemented systems to verify users’ actual location and request the update of billing information in case of discrepancies.
Why YouTube sanctions these types of actions
VPNs are tools that allow users to hide their IP address and pretend that they are connecting from another geographical location. Originally designed to protect privacy and prevent cyberattacks, VPNs are also used to access geo-restricted content and to take advantage of price differences in services like YouTube Premium.
In countries such as Argentina, India, Turkey, Ukraine, and the Philippines, the cost of the service is significantly lower than in the United States or Europe. For example, while in the United States the monthly price of YouTube Premium is $14, in some of these countries it may be $3 or less.
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