- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:32 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
YouTube’s annual Impact Summit brought a clear message this year: the platform is doubling down on India’s digital creators, educators and healthcare professionals. At the event, YouTube revealed new economic impact findings alongside a significant line-up of AI features and institutional partnerships. According to new research from Oxford Economics, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed over ₹16,000 crores to India’s GDP last year and supported more than 930,000 full-time equivalent jobs, underscoring the platform’s growing importance to the country’s digital economy.
A Strong Push For Creator Growth And Digital Skills
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director for YouTube India, emphasised the broader responsibility the platform carries. “Our impact isn't just about views; it’s about livelihoods and shared economic growth. We see this when 63% of our monetising creators agree YouTube is their primary source of revenue. Our role is to provide the infrastructure for that success. That is why we’re forging strategic partnerships that build skills and launching new AI tools that empower the next wave of entrepreneurs – all built with our commitment to responsibility at the core.”
Supporting this vision, YouTube announced new partnerships with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Both collaborations are designed to strengthen learning pathways and bring high-quality content to millions of Indian users.
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Building India’s Creative Workforce
With 98 per cent of Indian users relying on YouTube for knowledge and information, the platform detailed new initiatives aimed at preparing students for careers in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality. Through the partnership with IICT, students will receive access to webinars, expert workshops and guest lectures. Google will support the institute’s new Create with AI programme, a funding initiative that encourages students and artists to build innovative projects using AI. YouTube will also help IICT set up and grow its official channel to share content and industry insights.
Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said, “India’s creative industry is at a pivotal moment, and AI is set to redefine storytelling. This partnership with YouTube is essential to bridge the gap between the classroom and the global stage, giving our students direct access to the technology and expertise they need to lead the next wave of Indian animation, film, and gaming.”
Scaling Healthcare Training With AIIMS
To expand access to certified medical training, YouTube is collaborating with the College of Nursing at AIIMS. Expert-designed courses on topics such as wound care and hospital infection control will now be available to nursing students and practising nurses across the country.
Dr Latha Venkatesan, Principal at the College of Nursing, said, “Digital learning is a powerful tool for scaling access to quality education. This partnership with YouTube allows us to take AIIMS' trusted curriculum beyond our campus walls and empower nurses across the country with the skills they need to deliver excellent patient care.”
New AI Features for Smarter Learning and Safer Experiences
YouTube also introduced its new conversational AI tool, which lets viewers ask questions and instantly receive answers within the video player. It launches in English first, with Hindi support coming soon.
With health content on YouTube crossing 300 billion views in India, the platform expanded its First Aid shelves to cover more conditions in both English and Hindi. New features aimed at digital well-being are also rolling out, including daily limits for scrolling on Shorts and default “take a break” reminders for users under 18.
AI Tools That Protect And Empower Creators
Creators in India will also receive access to the Edit with AI feature in the YouTube Create app, which automatically transforms raw footage into an editable draft. YouTube is also launching its likeness detection system in open beta for Partner Program creators, allowing them to flag and request removal of unauthorised AI-altered videos that misuse their facial identity.
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Gunjan Soni added, “India is not just a market; it's a source of global innovation and culture. The creativity we see here is extraordinary. By bringing our best AI technology and partnering with incredible institutions like IICT and AIIMS, we're not just investing in a platform; we're investing in the ingenuity of the Indian people. The future of the internet is being built right here, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
The announcements at the Impact Summit reflect YouTube’s widescale role in strengthening India’s digital landscape, from creator income and education to public health and online safety.