Currently, these features will be available to YouTube Premium (monthly subscription model) users. However, it is expected that they will also be introduced to free YouTube users in the near future.
YouTube Premium users can now enjoy audio streaming of music videos at 256kbps. Additionally, the company has introduced four playback speed options. Users are no longer limited to 2x speed and can now watch videos at even faster speeds. Premium users will now be able to increase video playback speed up to 4x for an enhanced viewing experience.
Furthermore, the Jump Ahead feature will now also be available to Premium users on the web version, whereas it was previously only available on the mobile app. This AI-powered feature allows users to watch the best parts of videos so they do not waste time watching the entire video.
The company has also introduced the Picture-in-Picture feature for Shorts. However, this feature will currently only be available to iPhone users. Additionally, a Smart Downloads feature for Shorts will also be available, allowing users to watch their favorite Shorts offline.
