Long-form video content is here to stay, says YouTube UK boss

YouTube’s UK and Ireland boss has insisted there will always be a future for long-form videos despite increasing competition from the likes of TikTok.

Alison Lomax, who took on the post in January this year, told the PA news agency that YouTube is committed to a multi-format proposition, through its traditional longer videos as well as Shorts, launched in 2021 to draw back some of the audiences that had switched to short-form rivals such as TikTok.

She said YouTube Music is rolling out its new podcast feature in response to increasing demand for podcasts from younger viewers, who she stressed are not turning their backs on longer-form content.

But it comes as TikTok continues to enjoy exponential growth, with mobile phone usage driving consumers towards short-form video.

Speaking on the launch of YouTube’s latest UK impact report, Ms Lomax said: “Generation Z have really embraced the podcast, but they’re not 60 seconds.”

She said in the future “there will still be a world for multi-format and you see that with creators”.

“Just because you can create short form content, does not mean that they do.

“People experiment with different formats.”

The research, conducted by Oxford Economics, found that more than 65,000 creators and partners in the UK receive income linked to their YouTube presence, with over a third of British creators who earn money from YouTube saying it was their main source of revenue.

Ms Lomax said recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) were also presenting “real opportunities” for its creators.

The group has been working with Google DeepMind, which is headquartered in Britain, to design AI solutions to create performance improvements on the platform for creators and viewers.

Ms Lomax said YouTube has been using AI since 2017, including to help develop content moderation in the battle against misinformation, something that is becoming increasingly important in the area of health and in particular ahead of upcoming elections in the US and UK.

She said: “(AI) is the buzz word of the year, but it’s been part of what we are doing for many years.”

Echoing recent comments from YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan, she said the industry is “at a critical inflection point” with AI.

“We need to boldly embrace it, but also by being mindful about responsibility.”

YouTube recently announced an initiative that will see it partner with the music industry as artists face increasing challenges from the rise of AI technology.

It has launched YouTube’s Music AI Incubator to help inform its approach to the technology, look at how it can enhance creativity and address issues.

“We’re aware of the big opportunity but also we are aware of the downsides… we want to be part of the solution and the opportunity,” said Ms Lomax.

The music initiative is the first of a number of YouTube announcements in the AI arena this year, she said, adding it is “something we’re thinking about very deeply for the ecosystem”.