YouTube detailed its 2026 priorities, outlining plans to strengthen creator support, improve protections for children and teenagers, and increase the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools across the platform.
In a blog post, Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, said the company is focusing on helping creators grow their channels while ensuring viewers have safer and more personalized viewing experiences. The platform plans to provide creators with more ways to reach audiences, experiment with content formats, and generate income from their work.
YouTube said these updates aim to help creators build sustainable careers while giving viewers access to more diverse and original videos. The company believes that allowing creators to manage how their content is produced and distributed can improve overall content quality.
The platform also plans to introduce updates designed for families. These include easier account setup for children and teenagers and improved options for switching between user profiles. Parents are expected to gain stronger tools to manage screen time and guide how younger users interact with online content.
YouTube said the goal is to give families more control and confidence as children use digital platforms for entertainment, learning, and communication.
The company is also expanding the use of AI as a support tool for both creators and viewers. For creators, AI-powered features may assist with content ideas, editing tasks, and testing new creative formats. For viewers, AI may help improve video recommendations, provide translation support, and make videos easier to understand across languages.
YouTube said AI is intended to assist human creativity and not replace it. The company plans to introduce clear labeling for AI-related content and strengthen policies to limit misleading or low-quality videos.
YouTube said it will continue to improve content guidelines and safety systems to maintain trust among users. The platform said its 2026 roadmap centers on supporting creators, protecting families, and improving viewing experiences as video consumption continues to grow online.