Copyright The Hollywood Reporter
YouTube continues to be a dominant force in advertising and entertainment, but the disruption from generative artificial intelligence spares no company. In a memo to staff Wednesday, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan cited the disruption and opportunity of AI as a reason to restructure the video platform, with the executive creating a new reporting structure for the company’s product teams, and rolling out a voluntary employee buyout program, offering severance to any YouTubers that may want to leave the company. A source notes that no roles are being eliminated as part of the changes, though voluntary separation programs can sometimes serve as a prelude to cuts later on. The decision to offer buyouts comes the same week that Amazon announced plans to reduce its workforce by 14,000 jobs, citing AI disruption. Going forward YouTube will have three product organizations, with the top executive from each reporting directly to Mohan. Subscription products will be led by Christian Oestlien and include oversight of YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, Primetime Channels and other business lines; Viewer products, led by Johanna Voolich, which will focus on the YouTube mobile and living room apps, trust & safety, YouTube Kids, search infrastructure and other key areas; and creator and community products, which will be focused on supporting creators, including through YouTube Shorts and its generative AI tools. YouTube is expected to bring in a new leader for that organization. In his memo, Mohan cited AI as the “next frontier” for YouTube. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter for this month’s cover story about YouTube, Mohan explained why he thinks AI will ultimately work in service of human creators.
