What The YouTube CEO Wants Creators To Know

In this post, we break down the CEO of YouTube's thoughts about YouTube in 2025:

-What Shorts Really Mean for the Future of YouTube

-The CEO’s Advice on Creator Monetization and Long-Term Success

-The Hidden Risk and Potential of AI for YouTubers

-What Makes a Creator's Connection Truly Valuable

-Why the Long-Form Format Isn't Going Anywhere

-Shorts, Long-Form, and Creator Freedom

The platform is all-in on multi-format. Neal Mohan said that YouTube’s vision is not just to become a shorts platform, not just a long-form but both. Creators are free to choose the format that best suits them and their audience. While shorts are growing rapidly (70 billion daily views!), the long-form foundation remains solid.

Choose the format that best builds your connection and lives out your passion, not just what’s trending.

Monetization: What You Need to Know

Neal highlighted how YouTube is building for scale, and that means revenue sharing, not just temporary creator funds. He highlighted how shorts monetization has increased every month since the rev-share model was introduced.

He also hinted at future shopping integrations becoming more lucrative, in fact, some creators are already earning more from product links on shorts than from ads.

But his big message? YouTube doesn’t want a cut of your off-platform brand deals. Unlike other platforms, it supports creator-owned business models because as long as your “home” is YouTube, it’s a win-win.

However, our opinion is still that YouTube shall give creators a larger share of the cake!

AI: Scary Flood or Creative Partner?

The conversation turned to AI and the risks. Neal acknowledged concerns about deepfakes, cloned voices, and semi-autonomous channels flooding the platform. But he’s optimistic: AI will be a tool, not a replacement.

He sees a future where AI helps creators with editing, background changes, thumbnails, or even scripting all while keeping the human connection at the core.

Neal mentioned that creators should start thinking now about how to protect their voice, face, and likeness and how to leverage AI to enhance, not replace, their work.

This indeed resonates with how we view it, as we discussed it with Karl in this podcast episode.

Connection Over Views

When asked about what truly matters, Neal didn't say subscribers or views he talked about depth of connection. Whether through long-form, shorts, posts, or live chat, what sets YouTube apart is its ability to let creators build real relationships with their audience.

Metrics like average view duration, returning viewers, and meaningful interactions now matter more than pure subscriber count.

So ask yourself: Are you building depth or just chasing reach?

The Role of YouTube in Creator Businesses

YouTube knows creators build businesses. Newsletters, Discord servers, sponsorships and often, these are off-platform. But Neal mentioned that YouTube’s philosophy is to support it.

Still, YouTube is investing more in tools like shopping tags, memberships, and affiliate programs to help creators keep more activity in-platform, if they want to.

Neal’s stance was simple: “We want YouTube to be your home. But we celebrate the businesses you build beyond it.”

The Long Game: What Creators Should Focus On

If you’re wondering what YouTube’s CEO would do in your shoes, his answer was honest: Keep your eye on the connection with your audience.

He warned against being distracted by trends, formats, or even monetization strategies that don’t align with your core mission.

The one shift he said creators must prepare for? AI. It’s a paradigm shift like mobile once was. The winners will be those who adapt and integrate AI into their creative process while staying human.

Want to win on YouTube in 2025 and beyond? Here's Neal's checklist:

• Build depth, not just views

• Choose formats that reflect your strengths

• Embrace AI as a tool, not a threat

• Stay focused on your audience because they’re your home