Using AI to improve the YouTube Shorts experience on desktop browsers: A tech enthusiast leveraged ChatGPT to create a custom JavaScript bookmarklet that converts the layout of YouTube Shorts to the standard YouTube video format with a single click, without requiring any coding knowledge.
Identifying the problem and potential solutions: The author noticed that YouTube Shorts have a suboptimal viewing experience on desktop browsers, with issues like incorrect video framing and difficult navigation. Recognizing that YouTube is unlikely to address this soon, he decided to find his own solution.
- By examining the URL structure of regular YouTube videos and Shorts, he realized that converting the URL format could potentially solve the layout issues.
- He turned to ChatGPT, a free AI chatbot, to explore whether it could help him create a tool to automatically convert the URLs and improve his YouTube Shorts experience on desktop.
Leveraging ChatGPT to create a custom bookmarklet: Through a series of prompts and conversations with ChatGPT, the author was able to generate the necessary JavaScript code for a browser bookmarklet that would convert YouTube Shorts URLs to the standard format.
- ChatGPT provided two potential solutions: a browser bookmarklet or a browser extension. The author chose the bookmarklet route as it seemed less daunting for a non-coder.
- The AI tool generated the code snippet and provided step-by-step instructions on how to create the bookmarklet, which the author successfully implemented in his own browser.
- ChatGPT also explained the generated code line-by-line, giving the author confidence in its functionality and safety before running it.
Testing the AI-generated solution: With the newly created “YT Shorts Switch” bookmarklet, the author tested it on a YouTube Short from PCMag’s channel. Clicking the bookmarklet instantly converted the Short to the regular YouTube video layout, confirming that the AI-powered solution worked as intended.
Embracing AI for accessible, personalized innovation: This experiment demonstrates how AI tools like ChatGPT can democratize technology and empower individuals, even those without coding skills, to create custom solutions tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
- The author emphasizes that the point is not just to provide a handy YouTube Shorts layout fix but to showcase how AI makes technology more accessible and allows anyone to build tools that solve their own unique pain points.
- He encourages readers to leverage AI to create their own helpful bookmarklets or automations, sharing a few additional ideas like formatting citations, redirecting to archived versions of webpages, or removing YouTube video controls for cleaner screenshots.
Embracing the AI-powered future: As AI continues to advance and become more user-friendly, individuals have unprecedented opportunities to harness its potential for solving everyday problems and enhancing their digital experiences. By embracing AI tools and experimenting with their capabilities, users can unlock personalized innovations that make their lives easier and more efficient, even without traditional coding skills. This accessible, democratized approach to technology holds immense promise for empowering individuals and driving widespread, user-centric innovation in the years ahead.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...