YouTube unveils new partnerships, AI tools to help accelerate India's creative economy

"It is encouraging to see platforms like YouTube align with the Ministry's core missions by creating pathways to credible information, economic independence, and digital literacy," said Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi.

IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar added, "India’s creative industry is at a pivotal moment, and AI is set to redefine storytelling. This partnership with YouTube is essential to bridge the gap between the classroom and the global stage, giving our students direct access to the technology and expertise they need to lead the next wave of Indian animation, film, and gaming."

YouTube said it will also bring expert-designed professional nursing courses to the platform in partnership with the College of Nursing at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The firm noted that the initiative will make critical training on topics such as wound care and hospital infection control available to over 5,000 nursing students and practicing nurses across the country.

'This partnership with YouTube allows us to take AIIMS' trusted curriculum beyond our campus walls and empower nurses across the country with the skills they need to deliver excellent patient care," said Latha Venkatesan, Principal at College of Nursing, AIIMS.

"By bringing our best AI technology and partnering with incredible institutions like IICT and AIIMS, we're not just investing in a platform; we're investing in the ingenuity of the Indian people. The future of the internet is being built right here, and we are proud to be a part of it," said YouTube India managing director Gunjan Soni.

New generative AI features rollout

YouTube is bringing the 'Edit with AI' feature to creators in India, months after its debut in the United States.

Available through the YouTube Create app, the feature turns raw footage into a first draft, significantly reducing editing time.

The company is also expanding its likeness detection technology in beta to all creators in the YouTube Partner Programme. This helps creators identify and request the removal of unauthorised, AI-altered videos that use their facial likeness. These features were first announced at the firm's Made on YouTube event in September.

In addition, YouTube is launching a new conversational AI tool that lets viewers ask questions and get instant answers right within the video player, aiming to make the viewing experience more engaging and educational. The feature is available in English, with support for Hindi expected shortly.

The video sharing platform is also rolling out the ability for users to set a daily limit for scrolling on the Shorts feed to encourage healthier screen habits.

YouTube added that its expanded First Aid shelves in English and Hindi, which appear at the top of search results, will now offer clear, credible videos covering a wider range of medical conditions.

"Through a collaborative approach with platforms like YouTube to provide tools supporting entrepreneurship and a safer online experience, we are strengthening a Digital India where women can innovate and lead, and children can learn and grow, securely," said minister Annapurna Devi.

YouTube also stated that the platform's creative ecosystem contributed over Rs 16,000 crores to India's GDP last year and supported more than 930,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

"Our impact isn't just about views; it’s about livelihoods and shared economic growth...Our role is to provide the infrastructure for that success," Soni said.

India is YouTube's largest market, with over half a billion users. It is also a crucial region for the platform's future growth.

Earlier this year, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced an investment of Rs 850 crore over the next two years to further accelerate the growth of India's burgeoning creator economy. He also said that the Google-owned platform has paid over Rs 21,000 crore to Indian creators, artists, and media companies in the last three years.