Google makes it easy to deepfake yourself

image via The Verge

April 9, 2026, 10:53 AM

• •YouTube is rolling out an AI avatar feature for Shorts, allowing creators to clone themselves.
• •Avatars can be inserted into existing videos or used to generate new ones.
• •Avatar videos will be flagged as AI-generated with watermarks and digital labels.
• •Creators must be 18+ and own a YouTube channel to use the feature.

YouTube is launching an AI-powered feature for Shorts, allowing creators to generate digital avatars of themselves for video content. This new tool enables users to create avatar versions of themselves, which can be used in existing Shorts or to generate entirely new videos. While the feature offers creative possibilities, YouTube is implementing restrictions, including flagging videos as AI-generated and allowing creators to delete their avatars. This launch reflects YouTube's approach to AI, balancing new generative features with efforts to combat AI-generated content issues.

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