YouTube is updating its video editor for Shorts to better compete with services such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, and teases some AI features coming later this year that could set it apart.
The new and improved editor will allow users to “make precise adjustments and edit the timing of each clip by zooming and snapping,” as well as the usual ability to rearrange and delete footage. YouTube says you’ll also be able to add music and synchronized text, as well as preview the video at any time during editing.
In the future, the editor will be able to automatically synchronize clips with the song. And “later this spring,” according to YouTube, the editor will be able to create stickers from photos in your image gallery or using the built-in image generator with artificial intelligence. This update also simplifies the process of using templates. Template creators will now be automatically credited when someone uses their work, and templates themselves can now include things like image overlays and filter effects.
YouTube is clearly trying to achieve some parity with the creative tools offered by TikTok and Instagram. TikTok’s editing tools and standalone video editor CapCut have long been the gold standard for creating videos on your phone. Given the uncertain future of TikTok in the US, making YouTube Shorts a more attractive alternative makes sense. This is also not the first time YouTube has taken inspiration from TikTok. In 2024, YouTube added a robotic voiceover feature to Shorts videos, clearly inspired by the popular TikTok version.
