YouTube’s UK and Ireland boss has insisted there will always be a future for long-form videos despite increasing competition from the likes of TikTok. Alison Lomax, who took on the post in January this year, told the PA news agency that YouTube is committed to a multi-format proposition, through its traditional longer videos as well as Shorts, launched in 2021 to draw back some of the audiences that had switched to short-form rivals such as TikTok. She said YouTube Music is rolling out its new podcast feature in response to increasing demand for podcasts from younger viewers, who she stressed are not turning their backs on longer-form content. Having launched in the US in April, it is now set to be unveiled in the UK by the end of the year, according to Ms Lomax. But it comes as TikTok continues to enjoy exponential growth, with mobile phone usage driving consumers towards short-form video. Speaking on the launch of YouTube’s latest UK impact report, Ms Lomax said: “Generation Z have really embraced the podcast, but they’re not 60 seconds.” She said in the future “there will still be a world for multi-format and you see that with creators”. “Just because you can create short form content, does not mean that they do. “People experiment with different formats.” (AI) is the buzz word of the year, but it's been part of what we are doing for many years Alison Lomax, YouTube UK and Ireland managing director The group, owned by Google parent Alphabet, said in its impact report that more than 45,000 full-time jobs were created among its creator economy in 2022, while its “creative ecosystem” contributed over £2 billion to wider UK economic output last year. The research, conducted by Oxford Economics, found that more than 65,000 creators and partners in the UK receive income linked to their YouTube presence, with over a third of British creators who earn money from YouTube saying it was their main source of revenue. Ms Lomax said recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) were also presenting “real opportunities” for its creators. The group has been working with Google DeepMind, which is headquartered in Britain, to design AI solutions to create performance improvements on the platform for creators and viewers. Ms Lomax said YouTube has been using AI since 2017, including to help develop content moderation in the battle against misinformation, something that is becoming increasingly important in the area of health and in particular ahead of upcoming elections in the US and UK. She said: “(AI) is the buzz word of the year, but it’s been part of what we are doing for many years.” Echoing recent comments from YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan, she said the industry is “at a critical inflection point” with AI. “We need to boldly embrace it, but also by being mindful about responsibility.” YouTube recently announced an initiative that will see it partner with the music industry as artists face increasing challenges from the rise of AI technology. It has launched YouTube’s Music AI Incubator to help inform its approach to the technology, look at how it can enhance creativity and address issues. “We’re aware of the big opportunity but also we are aware of the downsides… we want to be part of the solution and the opportunity,” said Ms Lomax. The music initiative is the first of a number of YouTube announcements in the AI arena this year, she said, adding it is “something we’re thinking about very deeply for the ecosystem”. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Robotic dog brought into survey historic Cold War weapons testing facilities Period and fertility tracking apps scrutinised over data security concerns Russian cyber-attacks ‘relentless’ as threat of WW3 grows, expert warns

The cost of batteries fell by nearly 10 per cent in August, taking them past a key milestone that is seen by energy analysts as a “tipping point” to supercharge the transition to electric vehicles. The price of lithium-ion battery cells, which power everything from smartphones to the International Space Station, fell below $100/ kilowatthour (kWh) last month – a 33 per cent drop from March 2022 and an 8.7 per cent month-on-month drop. Energy analytics firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, who compiled the figures, noted that battery pack prices need to reach $100/kWh for electric vehicles to reach price parity with fossil fuel-burning vehicles. “Decreasing cell prices could allow [manufacturers] to sell mass market electric vehicles at comparable prices to internal combustion engine vehicles, with the same margin, improving the attractiveness of the EV transition for both consumers and automakers,” said Benchmark analyst Evan Hartley. “Falling cell prices are of particular concern for companies investing in cell production outside of China, particularly when there is already concern surrounding the profitability of factories in regions such as Europe.” The drop in price could also have implications for other technologies, the report noted, including for solar and wind installations that need to store excess energy during periods of overproduction. “The energy and transport revolution continues,” energy analyst Gerard Reid wrote on LinkedIn. “Lithium battery cell prices are now below $100 per kWh, down 80 per cent in a decade. Going forward we will see even lower costs and better performance, which is why the death of the internal combustion engine is near.” The falling prices have been attributed to decreasing raw material costs, with lithium prices more than halving since the start of 2023. The price could continue to fall following the discovery of massive lithium deposits in recent months, most notably within an extinct supervolcano on the border of Nevada and Oregon. The McDermitt caldera could contain up to 120 million tonnes of lithium, according to recent estimates from geologists, which could potentially meet global battery demand for decades. Read More Battery breakthroughs are about to trigger a transport revolution Volcano discovery could power electric cars for decades, scientists say New invention will lead to ‘battery revolution’, scientists say Volcano discovery could power electric cars for decades, scientists say Scientists invent solar panels that work in a snow blizzard

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