YouTube and YouTube Music just got big updates: 3 things you need to know

Credit: How-To Geek Published Sep 23, 2026, 2:04 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account YouTube has unveiled a flurry of updates to both its core video service and YouTube Music that will tangibly affect your day-to-day streaming habits. As you'd expect with Google, AI plays a major role. However, some are simply practical (and likely overdue) improvements that shore up some of YouTube's weaknesses. YouTube Custom Feeds: Control what you see Make your own algorithm The lead feature is Custom Feeds, a way to create personalized home page tabs — effectively, to build your own YouTube algorithms. You can curate to suit a particular interest or your daily routine. The concept isn't new if you use social media, but should be helpful if YouTube regularly clutters your feed with uninteresting videos. Ask YouTube is also becoming more useful for researching your shopping. If you're looking for product reviews, you'll get both organized recommendations and (sometimes) comparison charts. You can keep asking questions when you start watching. Custom Feeds is coming to U.S. users on all platforms "soon," YouTube says. YouTube Music: AI can manage your queue and podcasts Talk to steer your listening YouTube Music is simultaneously making audio explorations a little easier. The Gemini-powered Ask YouTube lets you customize your song queue through natural-sounding conversations. If you're fascinated by an artist, you can also ask the AI to share more about their background. The service should be better at helping you find podcasts, too. Your Podcast Lineup is an AI-generated "audio guide" (also available on YouTube Premium) that previews recommended shows, explains its suggestions, and plays the episodes. You don't even have to look if you just want to start listening. The two features should be available now. Microdramas are now easy to follow YouTube has some non-AI upgrades in store. Shorts can now be structured into series, complete with seasons, episodes and in-order playback. You can follow a microdrama (short-form drama) without having to tap each clip. The format is rolling out today. You'll also start seeing recommended posts from your Shorts feed. This begins on mobile and. the web, but will reach TVs in the "coming months." Living room viewing is finally more active. You can use voice to comment on YouTube videos in the TV app, so you won't have to reach for your phone just to add your input.