YouTube is testing a new feature that will let users pause video playback if they plan to fall asleep while watching content. The feature, called Sleep Timer, is a new experimental feature released by the video streaming giant that will be available for a limited time. Depending on reception, the company may roll it out broadly to all users at a later date. Notably, the company is also testing a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool powered by Gemini that will allow content creators to generate video outlines based on text prompts and suggestions for video titles and thumbnails.
YouTube tests sleep timer function
In a after On its website, YouTube announced the availability of the Sleep Timer feature. The company described the feature as follows: “With Sleep Timer, you can set a timer to automatically pause playback after a specified amount of time.”
It is also quite simple to use. Users can open the YouTube app on their smartphone or the web client on their phone or desktop and then navigate to the settings menu (gear icon at the top right of the video interface) while playing a video. The user must be logged into their account to access the feature.
In the settings menu, the Sleep Timer feature shows options to pause playback after 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. There is also an option to stop autoplay after the video ends. This feature is currently only available to YouTube Premium users.
Since it is an experimental feature, users will need to manually enable the experimental features before they can access the feature. To do this, Premium users can go to Institutions on the YouTube homepage and navigate to try experimental new featuresPlease note, this feature is currently only available until September 2nd.
The Sleep Timer feature is a useful addition for those who prefer to watch videos while they go to bed, but don’t want to worry about closing the video playback or draining the battery during the night. Notably, the YouTube Premium subscription in India starts at Rs. 129 per month on a monthly subscription. Otherwise, a single monthly subscription costs Rs. 139. An annual subscription to the platform costs Rs. 1,290.
