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YouTube Shorts now lets you create videos using an AI avatar that looks and sounds like you. As 9to5Google reports, the "Make a video with my avatar" feature was teased earlier this year and is now rolling out to users via the YouTube and YouTube Create apps.
YouTube creates a sample avatar by capturing your face from multiple angles along with your voice. Once ready, the avatar can be paired with a description to generate a deepfake video on your chosen topic. Your lips, facial expressions, and hand gestures will move based on the video's content. The video could be fun, serious, or anything in between. I tried the feature, and the output closely matched my real-life appearance and voice.
To get started, you need to own a YouTube channel and be 18 or older. Then sign in to the YouTube app on your phone, tap Create (+), and slide to Short. Tap the Gemini-like star icon on the top right to enter the AI playground and select Create video > Make a video with my avatar.
(Credit: Jibin Joseph/YouTube)You’ll then have to provide a live video selfie. In it, you’ll be instructed to move your head to the left and to the right and speak a few numbers that appear on the screen. This stage captures your facial features and your voice. This took a while for me as YouTube repeatedly asked me to move to a quieter place. (I live in a quiet neighborhood, but there were a few birds chirping in the background.)
Once YouTube processes your data, it will present you with your AI avatar. Take a look at it, and tap Retake if unsatisfied. If it looks accurate, proceed to the prompt stage. In the “Describe your idea” field, provide a detailed prompt specifying what you want the avatar to say or do in the video.
(Credit: Jibin Joseph/YouTube)Wait for YouTube to generate the deepfake video. You can then download the video or upload it to Shorts. You can create more videos with the same avatar by tapping Create (+) > Shorts > Gemini spark icon > Create Video > Make a video with my avatar. Here's how the avatar worked out for me.
You can also add your avatar to eligible Shorts that appear on your feed. Go to Remix > Reimagine > Add me to this scene.
“Only you can use your avatar to create original videos, you can delete it at any time, and all output is labeled as AI,” Google says on a support page. However, deleting the avatar won’t delete the previous videos you created with it. You’ll have to do that manually. Google will also automatically delete any avatar that hasn’t been used for 3 years.
According to 9to5Google, the feature is available for mobile users outside Europe at launch, with full availability expected in the coming days.