YouTube Trending Page Removed: Why Content Is Always Evolving in the Age of AI
In the ever-shifting world of online content, nothing stays the same for long — and YouTube’s latest move is proof that what goes viral and how we discover it is in a constant state of reinvention.
YouTube recently announced it will remove its long-standing Trending page and Trending Now list, two features that since 2015 have helped users find the platform’s most popular and highly engaged videos. In place of a single list of viral uploads, YouTube is rolling out a new category-specific Charts section of content to watch that will come in the form of charts, giving users roundups for top Music videos, Podcasts, Movie Trailers, and more. Gaming will continue to shine on its dedicated Gaming Explore page.
A recent feature released for YouTube delivered a way for users to mute channels that they are subscribed to if they want to take a break from seeing their content, skipping the need to unsubscribe from them.
This shift marks a bigger trend in the content world: we’re seeing the entire ecosystem of content creation, discovery, and virality evolve — and artificial intelligence is only adding fuel to the fire.
A New Stage for Creators — and the Workforce
From YouTubers to TikTok influencers, podcasters to gamers, digital creators have paved an entirely new path in the modern job force. These creators aren’t just going viral — many are becoming multi-millionaires by harnessing platforms that didn’t even exist a decade ago.
As AI technology continues to shape how we produce, edit, and recommend content, this era of online creation is still in its early stages. Google’s Gemini and other models have been rolling out AI-generated content. In the past year, YouTube added a feature to its search function that features an AI video carousel that automatically plays the clips that are part of the results.
Though AI has come to the forefront of all-things in the world, YouTube still believes in preserving humanity’s purpose in creativity and business.
YouTube is preparing to update its policies to crack down on creators’ ability to generate revenue from “inauthentic” content, including mass-produced videos and other types of repetitive content — things that have become easier to generate with the help of AI technology.
On July 15, the company will update its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) Monetization policies with more detailed guidelines around what type of content can earn creators money and what cannot.
Whether it’s Shorts, long-form videos, or category-specific charts, YouTube’s latest changes reflect a simple truth: content consumption never stops shifting — and neither do the tools that make it.
AI, Content, and What’s Next
Artificial intelligence is no longer just behind the scenes — it’s becoming a co-creator. Some YouTube channels already experiment with AI-generated videos, while Google builds more AI-powered tools to help creators automate repetitive tasks and connect with audiences in new ways.
YouTube will soon introduce an AI-powered tool in Shorts that allows users to generate videos using simple text prompts, removing the need for cameras or editing tools. The company’s CEO, Neal Mohan, announced the update, which will use Google’s latest video generation model, Veo 3, during his keynote at the Cannes Lions 2025 festival.
“We’re already seeing this on YouTube,” Mohan said. “Veo is Google DeepMind’s video generation model, which lets you create AI-generated backgrounds and video clips for Shorts.”
The removal of YouTube’s Trending page might feel like the end of an era, but it’s also a reminder that the way we make, share, and go viral is never stagnant. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that moves as fast as the technology — and the human curiosity — that fuels it.
What do you think of YouTube’s latest move? How do you see AI reshaping what goes viral next? Share your thoughts below — and keep your mind open, because this is just the beginning.
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