We are not too sure how necessary this might be but video streaming giant YouTube has just rolled out a series of updates for users.
This includes live testing for a new feature that gives AI-based reply suggestions to assist creators engage with fans through the app. As mentioned by the platform, it’s designed to make things easier in terms of engagement through the reply section. With the feature up and running, you can choose editable suggestions in various tones and styles.
If you’re a creator of the app, you’ll begin to see suggestions pop up through the Community or Comments section on Studio as well as the mobile app.
The system is designed to learn the creator’s tone and style, based totally on previous interactions. This gives creators more ideas on how they can respond better to queries.
It’s quite similar to how Gmail’s auto-suggestions work and is awfully useful in this regard. However, some experts feel AI might be removing that human touch that most of us look forward to when carrying out chats. Hence, having everything tech-based and computer-related might ruin the fun.
Meanwhile, others on the go feel it’s a great way to save time when you’ve got a huge follower base. Sending out monotonous replies can be tiresome and boring so why not switch things up with AI? Still, the debate is that this might be more like fake engagement for some while for others, it’s a great way to get the task of replying out of the way.
We’ve seen tech giant Meta roll out something similar for its apps where the chatbot is designed to reply on behalf of the user. Still, platforms do encourage these kinds of engagement. This is true more now than ever since AI is getting harder to detect than before.
For now, YouTube is going ahead with the test for a small group of creators. We might be seeing another expansion on this front soon so stay tuned!
In other news, YouTube just confirmed that another part of its updates will feature a sleep timer that stops users from dozing off without any prior warning while watching content. This is why the company wants to put forward a feature that stops the device from playing back videos for long hours, even while you’re sleeping.
YouTube is currently in the testing phase for the Sleep Timer that would be offered on both the desktop and mobile versions of the platform. This enables users to set up a timer to pause the playback option after a length of time has passed.
Those with Premium subscriptions can turn to the app’s Experiments page to sign up and even try it out. Sleep Timers can be trailed by signing up, playing videos on the desktop, clicking on the gear icon, and activating Sleep Timer. If you want to activate it on the mobile app, just head on over to Additional Settings for activation.
There are different kinds of time limits which can be selected and they range from 10 minutes to one hour. Furthermore, there is a time limit that’s restricted to the end of the video so if you’re watching or hearing meditation music, it ends when the content ends.
The app failed to mention when the app would be launched for the masses and if it would be for free in the future. However, we do think it might come in handy for those who doze off easily without warning.
Other similar features in testing include a new Stable Volume offering and Jump Ahead feature that will begin rolling out for use this year. Google’s popular platform is also working on new offerings such as desktop players, notes powered by the community, and QR codes for various channels. It hopes to find a permanent solution to end ad blockers soon as well.
Read next: New Report by YouTube Talks About What Type of Content Are Viewers Interested in Watching Nowadays
