YouTube’s AI chatbot can make your next video thumbnail.

Aside from labeling and filtering AI slop, YouTube says you can directly chat with its Ask Studio bot to build thumbnails that are “tailored to your video’s specific themes and to your specific style.” It’s also added custom thumbnail uploads for Shorts if you’re in the YouTube Partner Program, and suggested thumbnail frames for Shorts. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/thumbnails-on-shorts-static-1.max-700x3000.format-webp.webp?quality=90&strip=all]

Raccontata datheverge.com