YouTube to Let Creators Edit Videos by Chatting

YouTube is building a chat-based AI editor that lets creators describe the changes they want instead of manually cutting footage, with a rollout planned for Shorts and YouTube Create in early 2027.

YouTube has unveiled plans for a conversational editing feature that turns video editing into a back-and-forth chat with an AI assistant. Instead of manually trimming clips, adjusting timelines, or hunting through menus, creators will be able to type or speak natural-language instructions and have the tool carry out the edits for them. According to TechCrunch, the feature is designed to work across both long-form videos and Shorts, suggesting YouTube wants the tool to serve everyone from casual short-form posters to creators producing longer, more complex uploads. The conversational editor is slated to arrive within YouTube Create and Shorts starting in early 2027, giving the company time to refine how the chat interface interprets editing requests before a wider release. The move fits into a broader trend among video platforms racing to fold generative AI directly into their creation tools, lowering the technical bar for editing and letting creators focus on ideas rather than software mechanics. If it works as described, the tool could reshape how everyday users approach editing, treating it less like a technical skill and more like a conversation with an assistant that understands intent.