YouTube Shorts adds artificial voiceovers, auto-captions, & a new auto layout tool

YouTube Shorts has introduced several new features aimed at positioning itself more competitively against TikTok. One significant update is a text-to-speech video narration feature, which allows users to add artificial voiceovers by creating text and selecting from four available voices via a new "add voice" icon in the upper-left corner of the Shorts screen. This feature mimics TikTok's robotic voice but offers fewer voice options.

In addition, YouTube Shorts now offers auto-generated captions, streamlining the process by eliminating the need for third-party apps like CapCut or Captions. Users can customize these captions with several fonts and colors, similar to the existing manual text overlay feature.

A new auto-layout tool is also set to arrive soon, enabling creators to convert regular longer videos into Shorts more efficiently by automatically tracking the video's main subject, dynamically panning, zooming, and cropping the video. There's also updates to remixes, and new Minecraft-themed effects & minigames. These changes aim to position Shorts even more strongly as a robust alternative to TikTok or Instagram Reels.