Google has recently announced several enhancements to YouTube Premium, aimed at improving the overall user experience. These new features, which include AI-powered tools and enhanced bitrate for Android, are an attempt to justify the increasing subscription cost of YouTube Premium.
The first significant update is the introduction of an enhanced bitrate of 1080p streams for Android, Web, and smart TVs. This feature, which was earlier available only on iPhones and desktop streams, promises “extra crisp and clear” videos, enhancing the viewing experience for Android and smart TV users.
Another feature is the ability to continue sessions across all devices. This means users can now seamlessly switch from their phones or computers to their smart TVs or tablets without losing their place in the video. This feature provides a smooth and uninterrupted viewing experience across multiple platforms.
YouTube Premium is also introducing badges that highlight Premium milestones and showcase users’ achievements on the platform. Although the specifics of this feature are still unclear, it seems to be a form of a “trophy cabinet” for users.
Google is also testing two AI-related features: Conversational AI and Comment topics summarized by AI. The Conversational AI feature acts like a chatbot that can suggest related content or answer questions about the video being watched without interrupting the playback. On the other hand, the Comment topics summarized by AI feature attempts to condense large comment sections into digestible themes, which could be useful for both viewers and creators.
These experimental AI features are currently available to a limited number of YouTube Premium members in the United States on Android devices. Interested users can sign up for these features at youtube.com/new.
In addition to these, YouTube Premium is also offering new benefits for subscribers, including in-game loot for Genshin Impact, three-month trials of Discord Nitro, PC Game Pass, and Walmart+, as well as a four-month trial of Calm premium.
These new features and benefits are Google’s attempt to provide more value to YouTube Premium subscribers and enhance their video streaming experience.
