At the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival, YouTube made a huge announcement that could change how content is created, shared, and consumed. CEO Neal Mohan revealed that YouTube Shorts now attracts over 200 billion views every single day, nearly three times more than in 2024, when it was pulling in around 70 billion daily views.
That staggering number confirms what many marketers and creators already suspected: YouTube is no longer just competing with TikTok, it’s leading the race in short-form video.
In addition to the massive surge in Shorts viewership, Mohan shared several major updates about how YouTube is evolving as a platform:
- Over 1 billion hours of YouTube content are watched daily.
- More than half of the top 100 YouTube channels are now primarily watched on TV screens, not phones or laptops.
- YouTube is launching Veo 3, a powerful new AI video generation tool designed to help creators produce smarter, more creative short-form videos.
Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube, said, “The possibilities with AI are limitless. Entertainment has changed more in the last 20 years than at any other time in history — and creators are at the center of that change.”
YouTube’s explosive growth in Shorts, combined with its push into AI-powered tools and smart TV experiences, is setting a new standard for digital video platforms.
For Creators:
- New monetization tools tied to Shorts help creators earn more from short videos.
- Veo 3, the upgraded AI video tool, allows faster, higher-quality content creation.
- More visibility as Shorts now perform well across mobile and TV, giving creators a wider audience.
- Opportunities to use multi-language dubbing for global reach.
For Marketers:
- The combination of TV viewership and short-form engagement gives advertisers powerful new ways to connect with audiences.
- YouTube offers ad formats tailored for both bite-sized content and big screens, helping brands increase reach and effectiveness.
- With Shorts’ rise, brands can be discovered faster, especially if their content aligns with trending videos.
Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube, said during his keynote, “Creators are the startups of Hollywood.” He added, “They’re building teams, studios, and entire businesses around their content.”
What You Should Do Now
With YouTube Shorts gaining momentum, this is the time for creators and marketers to adapt. Here’s how you can stay ahead:
- Post Regularly on Shorts: Stay active and consistent to ride the engagement wave.
- Use Veo 3 AI Tools: Enhance video creativity and quality without needing big production budgets.
- Optimize for Smart TVs: Use proper formats, bold branding, and subtitles that work on larger screens.
- Add Cross-Language Dubbing: Reach more global viewers by making your content accessible in multiple languages.
- Align with Trends: Jump on viral Shorts to boost visibility and recommendations.
- Create Mixed Formats: Blend short-form videos with long-form content to maximize exposure.
YouTube Shorts is no longer a side feature it’s becoming the main engine of engagement for both creators and advertisers. The combination of AI tools like Veo 3, TV integration, and massive daily views positions YouTube as a one-stop destination for entertainment, storytelling, and brand visibility. As other platforms scramble to catch up, those who invest early in smart strategies and creative innovation will likely be the biggest winners.