The big picture: As YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary, CEO Neal Mohan has made a bold declaration: YouTube is not just a video platform, it's the new television. In his annual letter to the YouTube community, Mohan emphasized the platform's growing dominance in the living room, with TV screens now surpassing mobile devices as the primary way US audiences consume YouTube content. "TV screens have officially overtaken mobile as the 'primary device for YouTube viewing in the US,'" Mohan said, which is a major shift in viewing habits. This transition indicates that "YouTube is the new television," but one that looks drastically different from its predecessor. The "new" television is interactive, incorporating shorts, podcasts, and live streams alongside traditional content like sports, sitcoms, and talk shows.YouTube's growing presence in the TV market is undeniable. The platform has consistently topped Nielsen's monthly Gauge report, outpacing streaming giant Netflix in total viewership. This success is driven by several factors, including YouTube's ongoing investment in its YouTube TV virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD), which has already surpassed eight million subscribers.Furthermore, YouTube has been optimizing its TV app experience, introducing features designed to enhance the big-screen viewing. "We're bringing the best of YouTube to TVs, including a second-screen experience that lets you use your phone to interact with the video you're watching on TV for example, to leave a comment or make a purchase," Mohan noted.YouTube is also experimenting with "Watch With," a feature that allows creators to provide live commentary and reactions to games and events. Initial trials were conducted with the NFL.The platform's growth on connected TVs has also attracted new advertisers, introducing ad formats optimized for the big screen, such as QR codes and pause ads.Mohan also spoke about YouTube's role as a cultural epicenter, emphasizing the platform's significance during major events. He noted that, on Election Day last year, over 45 million Americans turned to YouTube for election-related content. Landmark videos, like Joe Rogan's interview with President Trump and political sketches from Saturday Night Live, further solidify YouTube's position as a source of information and entertainment. // Related Stories"From elections to the Olympics to Coachella to the Super Bowl and the Cricket World Cup, the world's biggest moments play out on YouTube," Mohan said.In addition to video content, YouTube has also emerged as a leading platform for podcasts. According to Edison Podcast Metrics, YouTube is now the most-used service for listening to podcasts in the US, surpassing Spotify and Apple Podcasts. "We've long invested in the podcast experience and creators have found that video makes this format even more compelling," Mohan explained, adding that YouTube plans to roll out more tools to support podcasters and improve monetization opportunities for creators.Looking ahead, Mohan underscored three "big bets for 2025," one of which is to bring more AI tools to creators. While generative AI models have garnered significant attention, Mohan said creators are finding simpler, more practical AI tools to be more beneficial for their everyday workflows."As impressive as the generative models are, creators tell us they're most excited about the ways AI can help with their bread-and-butter production," Mohan said.YouTube is investing in AI-powered tools to assist creators with tasks like generating video ideas, titles, and thumbnails. The platform is also using AI to help creators reach new audiences through auto-dubbing, which translates videos into multiple languages. According to YouTube, more than 40 percent of the total watch time for videos with dubbed audio comes from viewers choosing to listen in a dubbed language.Mohan also pointed to the rise of creators as "the startups of Hollywood," citing examples of YouTubers who have built professional-grade media operations. For instance, Dude Perfect recently opened a $5 million headquarters in Texas, and Alan Chikin Chow, creator of "Alan's World," opened a 10,000-square-foot studio in Burbank, California.