You can make a YouTube Short with AI in minutes: write a short script, generate the visuals and voice, add captions and upload. This guide covers the rules for Shorts, the AI tools built into YouTube, how third-party tools fit in, a simple workflow, and prompts for scripts and titles.
YouTube Shorts rules you need to know
A video counts as a Short when it is square or vertical and runs for up to 3 minutes. The limit rose from 60 seconds on October 15, 2024. The recommended size is 1080 × 1920 pixels in a 9:16 vertical format, and there is no official minimum length. A vertical video over 3 minutes becomes a regular upload, and a horizontal 16:9 video isn’t a Short whatever its length.
A longer Short isn’t a better one. Many Shorts work best when they are short and focused on a single idea, so use the extra time only if the idea needs it.
AI tools built into YouTube
YouTube has added generative AI to Shorts. Dream Screen creates AI backgrounds from a text prompt, and YouTube has added Google’s Veo video models to generate short clips and, in some regions, text-to-video with audio. AI-generated content made with these tools is labelled, and YouTube uses SynthID watermarks to identify it.
Features and limits change, and some tools launched only in selected countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Check the Shorts camera in your YouTube app to see what’s available to you.
When a third-party AI Shorts generator makes sense
YouTube’s built-in tools make short clips and backgrounds. A third-party tool is more useful when you want a full video with a script, voiceover, footage and captions.
InVideo AI turns a prompt into a draft video quickly, which suits Shorts, but many users report credits running out fast, so test it on the free plan first. Fliki and Pictory turn scripts and blog posts into videos with voiceovers. HeyGen creates a presenter on screen, and Runway generates short cinematic clips you can drop into a Short.
Before you subscribe, check that the tool can export vertical 9:16 video. We haven’t verified this for every tool, and a horizontal export won’t qualify as a Short. For a wider comparison, see our list of the best AI video generators for YouTube.
A simple workflow for AI Shorts
1. Choose one idea. One fact, tip or story per Short.
2. Write a script that opens with the hook. Put the most interesting line first and keep sentences short.
3. Generate the video. Use your chosen tool and pick a vertical format.
4. Add captions. Many viewers watch without sound.
5. Edit for your voice. Change generic lines, swap weak scenes and check every fact.
6. Write a short title. Titles can be up to 100 characters, but the Shorts feed only shows about 40, so put the key words first.
7. Disclose when required, then upload. If the video contains realistic synthetic content, use the altered or synthetic content setting in YouTube Studio.
Prompts for AI Shorts scripts
Write a 30-second YouTube Shorts script about [topic] for [audience]. Start with a one-sentence hook, give three short points and end with a question that invites comments. Use simple language and short sentences.
Give me 10 Shorts ideas about [niche]. For each one, write the hook in under 12 words.
Turn this blog paragraph into a 45-second Shorts script with a strong first line: [paste text].
Suggest five Shorts titles for this script, each under 40 characters, with the main keyword first: [paste script].
Tips for better AI Shorts
Keep one idea per video, add your own opinion or example, and vary the look and structure of your videos. Don’t publish dozens of near-identical Shorts. YouTube’s rules target mass-produced, repetitive content, and our guide to monetizing AI-generated YouTube videos explains what that means in practice.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes for square or vertical videos uploaded since October 15, 2024.
What size should a Short be?
1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16 is the recommended size.
Does YouTube have its own AI Shorts generator?
YouTube has added generative AI tools to Shorts, such as Dream Screen and Veo-powered clips. Availability varies by country.
What is the best AI YouTube Shorts generator?
It depends on the format. See our list of the best AI video generators for YouTube, and for the full workflow read our guide to the AI YouTube video maker.
Do I need to disclose AI use?
If a video contains realistic altered or synthetic content, yes. Use the setting in YouTube Studio when you upload.
How we researched this guide
This guide is based on YouTube’s Shorts specifications as summarised by several sources, news coverage of YouTube’s AI features, our tool reviews and policy summaries (checked November 1, 2026). The prompts are suggestions we wrote and have not tested. We have not run our own trials of the tools. Features and rules change often, so confirm details on YouTube Help.