YouTube has introduced new thumbnail creation tools aimed at helping creators save time and improve content discovery, including the ability for eligible creators to upload custom thumbnails for Shorts and an AI-powered thumbnail generation feature for long-form videos.

The company in a post on its website yesterday said creators in the YouTube Partner Program can now begin uploading custom thumbnails for Shorts, describing it as one of the most-requested features.

The update gives creators greater control over how their Shorts are presented to viewers, making it easier for audiences to discover content and know what to expect. YouTube said it plans to expand the feature to more creators over time.

Alongside the rollout, creators can now select from three suggested thumbnail frames for Shorts on desktop, similar to the option already available for long-form videos. On mobile, creators will continue to have the option of choosing any frame directly from the video through the YouTube app.

The platform has also integrated thumbnail generation into Ask Studio for long-form videos.

Creators can ask the AI-powered tool to generate a thumbnail for their latest video and further refine elements such as colours and layouts through conversational prompts.

According to YouTube, the generated thumbnails will be tailored to both the video’s themes and the creator’s individual style, enabling creators to quickly iterate on different visual designs without leaving Ask Studio.

The company said the new tools are intended to simplify the thumbnail creation process while giving creators more flexibility in presenting their content.

It added that the updates are designed to help creators save time and offer viewers a more visually engaging browsing experience.