YouTube Premium users on Android get new 'Jump Ahead' button, Picture-in-picture mode for Shorts

YouTube Premium gets a bunch of new features in the latest update. These features are powered by Artificial Intelligence, similar to the Live Streaming features that were reported to be undergoing testing recently. Currently, these features are available exclusively to Android users in the US, with an iOS rollout expected in the coming weeks.

The key feature is the new 'Jump Ahead' button. The button appears when double-tapping to skip ahead in videos. This is slightly reminiscent of the 'Key Moments' feature in YouTube videos, where users can choose a section of the video and start there. YouTube specifies that viewership data and AI work together to take the user where they would preferably want to go.

The second update aims to make YouTube Shorts more comfortable to watch. Users can leverage the new picture-in-picture mode if they want to minimize the Shorts window and use other applications. Tapping on the enlarge button again will take the user back to the Shorts tab.

Additionally, YouTube Premium subscribers can access new features that are currently in development via youtube.com/new, including automatic downloads of YouTube Shorts for offline viewing, an AI assistant for questions and content suggestions, and a revamped Watch page. All these features intend to capture a new premium customer base while keeping existing subscribers up-to-date. The subscription is available for $13.99 a month in the US.