Multitasking just got a little more interesting for YouTube Premium subscribers on Android devices! YouTube recently announced that they’re rolling out picture-in-picture (PIP) functionality for YouTube Shorts. This means you can now minimize a Short and keep it playing in a small window while you use other apps on your phone.

What is Picture-in-Picture?

PIP is a feature that allows you to shrink a video window and keep it playing on top of other apps you’re using. This is great for situations where you want to keep an eye on a video while also checking emails, browsing the web, or doing other things on your phone.

PIP for YouTube Shorts: A Questionable Use Case?

While PIP for regular YouTube videos can be a valuable tool, its usefulness for YouTube Shorts is a bit debatable. Shorts are typically very short videos, ranging from 15 to 30 seconds. It’s fair to wonder who would find it beneficial to keep such a brief video playing in PIP mode while multitasking on other apps.

Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

• Limited Benefit for Short Content: Since Shorts are already short and designed for quick consumption, there’s not much need to minimize them and keep them playing in PIP. You could likely watch the entire Short uninterrupted in most cases.

• Potential Niche Uses: However, there might be some niche situations where PIP for Shorts could be helpful. For instance, maybe you’re following a cooking tutorial Short and need to quickly check a recipe ingredient in another app. PIP could allow you to keep an eye on the video demonstration while referencing the recipe.

YouTube Smart Download (Under Development)

YouTube is currently experimenting with an opt-in feature that allows users to automatically download new Shorts videos directly to their smartphones. This means you can watch your favorite Shorts even when you don’t have an internet connection – perfect for commutes, airplane rides, or anywhere with spotty Wi-Fi.

YouTube AI Conversation

Remember those AI-powered conversations you could have about YouTube videos on your Android device? Well, they’re back! YouTube is re-introducing its conversational AI feature, offering a unique way to interact with video content.

Chatting with YouTube’s AI (Under Development)

Here’s how it works:

• The “Ask” Button: Look for a new button labeled “Ask” appearing underneath the video you’re watching on the YouTube app for Android. This button signifies the presence of the AI assistant.
• Ask Questions, Get Answers: Tap the “Ask” button and fire away! You can ask the AI questions related to the video you’re watching, potentially seeking clarification or interesting facts.
• Find Similar Content: Feeling hooked on a particular video style? You can also ask the AI to recommend similar content, helping you discover new videos you might enjoy.
• Multitasking Made Possible: The beauty of this feature is that you can interact with the AI even while the video is playing. No need to pause or rewind – ask your questions and get answers on the fly.

New YouTube Watch Page (Under Development)