YouTube Adds Machine Learning To Comments, Rebuilds Its Desktop Creator Studio

Capping off the slew of updates it unveiled this year at VidCon, YouTube announced at a session on Saturday evening that it is rebuilding its Creator Studio on desktops and revamping comments with new machine learning technology.

The all-new YouTube Creator Studio — which the company is renaming YouTube Studio — will still feature a suite of channel management tools aimed to make creators’ lives easier. Updates, the company said in a blog post, will make it possible to accomplish even more in less time with a streamlined design and new features. A smart inbox, for instance, will give creators personalized suggestions for engaging with fans or collaborating with other creators. YouTube says it’s rebuilding the Studio with creator input, and is inviting interested parties to sign up for a beta test right here.

Another update announced at VidCon will seek to improve the platform’s notoriously dicey comments section. YouTube said that updates to comments, including the ability for creators to bestow hearts and pin comments, are seeing great success. These types of notifications are resulting in 3x more engagement than other notifications, writes VP of product management Manuel Bronstein

, and creators are sending 1.7 million hearts every day.

A new, optional feature currently in the works called “comment topics” will harness machine learning to give fans the ability to browse comments according to which topics being discussed. The technology will also parse through comments to look for common themes and topics, giving creators a sense of what viewers are talking about at a glance.

Finally, YouTube addressed the hot topic of monetization. Despite the fact that some advertisers paused their spend on the platform after learning that their campaigns were running against inappropriate videos, YouTube highlighted alternative revenue streams, including Super Chats. The company says that 65% of the channels using Super Chat have doubled their income during live streams, and the feature is now available in 38 countries.

YouTube also highlighted its acquisition of influencer marketing agency FameBit, which helps creators land brand deals.