Key points
- YouTube’s user base has reached 2.7 billion, surpassing Disney in US viewership.
- YouTube is projected to surpass Disney’s media revenue by 2025.
- The platform is leveraging AI to enhance content creation tools for its creators.
- YouTube emphasizes AI as a tool to empower creators, not replace them. Over $100 billion has been paid to content creators in the past four years.
YouTube, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has undergone a dramatic evolution from a platform for amateur videos to a media behemoth with 2.7 billion users. In July 2025, YouTube’s US viewership share of 13.4% eclipsed Disney’s 9.4%, and analysts predict that YouTube’s annual revenue will soon surpass Disney’s nearly $60 billion mark. A strategic embrace of artificial intelligence fuels this growth.
At its annual “Made on YouTube” event, executives unveiled a vision for the platform’s future, emphasizing AI-powered tools designed to empower creators rather than replace them. These tools streamline video production by automating tasks such as embedding shopping links and creating initial video cuts from multiple clips.
New features include AI-generated videos for podcasts and a speech-to-song generator, showcasing YouTube’s commitment to innovation.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan emphasized that AI is a tool for creators to build sustainable careers, refuting the notion that it will replace their roles. He highlighted the platform’s financial commitment to creators, with over $100 billion paid out in the last four years. This investment has enabled many to establish professional-grade production facilities, mirroring those found in Hollywood.
The rapid expansion of AI-driven tools reflects YouTube’s accelerated product development cycle, with the number of new features introduced this year tripling that of last year. This strategy leverages Google’s deep resources and AI expertise to maintain YouTube’s competitive edge in the entertainment industry.
The platform’s success is further underscored by its growing influence on media consumption, with popular creators rivaling traditional late-night TV hosts and Hollywood stars in terms of reach and engagement.
