At the YouTube Impact Summit, the platform announced a suite of AI-powered tools, new safety features, and collaborations with leading Indian institutions, underscoring its long-term commitment to the country’s creator and knowledge economy. The event also showcased updated economic impact findings from Oxford Economics, which estimated that YouTube contributed over ₹16,000 crore to India’s GDP last year while supporting more than 930,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
Gunjan Soni, managing director – India, YouTube, emphasised the platform’s broader impact, stating, “Our impact isn’t just about views; it’s about livelihoods and shared economic growth. We’re forging strategic partnerships that build skills and launching new AI tools that empower the next wave of entrepreneurs-built with responsibility at the core.”
As part of its efforts to support future creative talent, YouTube announced a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT). The collaboration includes industry-led learning modules, funding for AI-driven student projects, and support for IICT’s YouTube channel. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO, IICT, noted that the initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for India’s creative industry as AI reshapes storytelling and production workflows.
YouTube also partnered with the College of Nursing at AIIMS to bring specialised courses—including Wound Care and Infection Control-onto the platform. Dr. Latha Venkatesan, principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS, said the initiative will help equip nurses nationwide with essential professional skills.
The company introduced a conversational AI tool that enables viewers to ask questions directly within the video player, with Hindi support to be rolled out soon. Additional updates include expanded First Aid content shelves in English and Hindi, new controls for managing daily Shorts consumption, and reaffirmed youth safety defaults. The Edit with AI tool is now available to all creators through the YouTube Create app, while likeness detection technology has entered open beta for YouTube Partner Program creators, providing tools to identify and request removal of AI-altered content.
Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, welcomed the platform’s initiatives, noting their alignment with the Ministry’s mission to build a secure and empowering digital ecosystem for women and children.
Soni added, “India is not just a market; it’s a source of global innovation and culture. By bringing our best AI technology and partnering with institutions like IICT and AIIMS, we’re investing in the ingenuity of the Indian people. The future of the internet is being built here, and we are proud to be part of it.”
