YouTube has unveiled a suite of artificial intelligence-powered tools and strategic institutional partnerships aimed at strengthening India’s rapidly expanding digital knowledge ecosystem. The initiatives focus on supporting content creators, expanding access to credible health information, and helping young professionals build careers in emerging creative technologies.
Economic Impact Findings
The announcements accompanied YouTube’s latest economic impact data, estimating the platform contributed over Rs 16,000 crore to India’s GDP in 2023 while supporting more than 9.3 lakh full-time equivalent jobs, according to Oxford Economics research.
“Our impact isn’t just about views; it’s about shared economic progress. Sixty-three percent of our monetising creators say YouTube is their primary income source. Our focus is to strengthen that foundation by building skills, collaborating with institutions, and deploying responsible AI tools,” said Gunjan Soni, Managing Director, YouTube India.
YouTube Educational Partnerships
YouTube will partner with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to prepare students for careers in animation, gaming, visual effects, and related fields. The collaboration includes industry-led workshops, a “Create with AI” funding programme for experimental projects, and support developing IICT’s official YouTube presence.
“AI is reshaping the way stories are told. By giving students access to industry knowledge and cutting-edge tools, this initiative helps them compete on a global stage,” said IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar.
Additionally, YouTube partnered with AIIMS College of Nursing to host specialized nursing courses covering wound care, infection control, and essential training for over 5,000 nursing students and professionals nationwide.
“This collaboration allows us to take AIIMS’ trusted curriculum nationwide and support nurses with high-quality learning resources,” said Dr. Latha Venkatesan, Principal of AIIMS College of Nursing.
AI-Powered Features
New launches include a conversational AI tool allowing viewers to ask questions and receive instant answers while watching videos, currently available in English with Hindi support expected soon.
The “Edit with AI” feature in YouTube Create app transforms raw footage into polished first drafts, reducing editing time. Expanded likeness-detection technology helps creators identify unauthorized AI-altered content using their facial features.
Health Information and Digital Well-Being
With health-related videos crossing 300 billion views in India by December 2024, YouTube introduced First Aid shelves in English and Hindi featuring verified videos. A new feature allows users to set daily scrolling limits within Shorts, with “take a break” prompts remaining default for users under 18.
