Neal Mohan defends YouTube's revenue split by positioning it as a model where creators bet on their own growth, contrasting with traditional media's upfront payments. For top creators who self-monetize, he frames this as a flexible choice, not a platform weakness, allowing them to select the model that best suits their business.
YouTube's strategy for AI content extends beyond labeling. CEO Neal Mohan reveals plans to adapt their Content ID system for "likeness detection." This would empower creators to identify AI-generated content using their face or voice and then choose to either have it removed or take ownership and monetize it themselves.
While many see YouTube Premium as just an ad-free video service, CEO Neal Mohan clarifies that it originated as a music subscription platform. A large portion of its 125 million subscribers are primarily music fans using it as their main music service, not just viewers who are avoiding ads on videos.
Addressing concerns about fragmented media, YouTube's CEO argues that new shared cultural experiences are emerging on the platform. He points to events like an NFL game integrating top creators like Mr. Beast into the live broadcast as the modern equivalent of traditional appointment viewing, creating a "new water cooler moment."
When questioned about censorship alongside Twitter and Facebook, CEO Neal Mohan deliberately reframes YouTube's identity. He asserts YouTube has more in common with streaming platforms than social media feeds. This is a strategic move to distance the brand from social media's controversies and align it with the entertainment industry.
YouTube's CEO justifies stricter past policies by citing the extreme uncertainty of early 2020 (e.g., 5G tower conspiracies). He implies moderation is not static but flexible, adapting to the societal context. Today's more open policies reflect the world's changed understanding, suggesting a temporal rather than ideological approach.