According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, YouTube is running two major experiments that push the platform beyond its video-only roots. The first test introduces image-based posts directly into the Shorts feed, allowing creators to post carousels of up to 10 images or animated GIFs to gain visibility without making a video. In a parallel move, YouTube is testing an AI feature called “Portraits” with a small group of creators, which lets users 18 and older in the U.S. interact with an AI representation of a creator to ask questions. The image posts currently lack background audio, though YouTube plans to add it later, and the Portraits feature is only visible on the desktop version of YouTube for now. The company has not shared a timeline for a wider public release of either experiment.
Is YouTube Having an Identity Crisis?
Look, this is a fascinating but risky pivot. YouTube’s entire brand is built on video. It’s the place you go to watch stuff. Now, they’re essentially testing a photo feed inside their short-form video hub. It feels like a direct, and maybe desperate, reaction to the competitive pressure from platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where mixed-media feeds are the norm. But here’s the thing: when every app tries to do everything, they often end up doing nothing particularly well. Will users really open YouTube to scroll through static images? Or will it just feel like clutter in a space designed for motion and sound? I’m skeptical.
AI Portraits: Creepy or Clever?
And then there are the AI Portraits. Basically, it’s a chatbot dressed up as your favorite creator. The stated goal—helping creators understand audience interests and guiding viewers—sounds noble. But come on. This feels like an engagement trick wrapped in AI hype. Is talking to a chatbot *really* a “more interactive way” to explore a topic, or is it just a more convoluted one? The potential for awkwardness, misinformation, or just plain useless responses seems high. Remember all those failed AI assistants? This gives me similar vibes. It’s a feature in search of a real problem, and it could easily come off as gimmicky or, let’s be honest, a little creepy.
The Broader Push Beyond Video
So what’s the real play here? It’s about attention and platform lock-in. YouTube doesn’t just want to be your video site; it wants to be your default content consumption app, period. By adding images and interactive AI elements, they’re trying to increase “session time” and keep you from jumping over to Instagram or X. The risk, of course, is diluting what makes YouTube special. If the Shorts feed becomes a messy blend of videos, GIFs, and still photos, the user experience could suffer. These experiments feel like Google throwing things at the wall to see what sticks in the brutal social media war. Only time will tell if users actually want this, or if YouTube is solving a problem nobody really has.
