How to get an AI summary of a YouTube short
GET request to /v1/youtube/shorts/summarize with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 4 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Turn any YouTube video into an AI summary with key points, topics, and sentiment.How to get an AI summary of a YouTube short (step by step)
- 1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
- 2
Call the YouTube Shorts Summarizer API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/youtube/shorts/summarize with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
- 3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat calls are free.
Code example
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/youtube/shorts/summarize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdQw4w9WgXcQ" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."What the response looks like
{
"success": true,
"cached": false,
"creditsUsed": 4,
"data": {
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXVHmGoCTco",
"videoId": "DXVHmGoCTco",
"title": "50 Streamers Fight for $1,000,000",
"summary": "In an intense and entertaining competition, 50 of the biggest streamers are trapped in a cube, competing for a chance to win a million dollars. The challenges range from paintball elimination rounds to blindfolded games involving a Lamborghini, and eventually culminate in a series of strategic video game battles. Throughout the competition, alliances form and rivalries ignite as streamers navigate the high-stakes environment, showcasing their gaming skills and personalities. ...",
"keyPoints": [
"50 top streamers are locked in a cube competing for a million dollars.",
"Challenges include paintball elimination, blindfolded Lamborghini competition, and Fortnite battles."
],
"topics": [
"streamers",
"competition"
],
"sentiment": "positive"
}
}Request parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | string | Yes | Public YouTube Shorts URL, e.g. https://youtube.com/shorts/ID. Not a TikTok/Instagram/Facebook URL. The URL platform must match this endpoint's platform. Do not pass cross-platform URLs, e.g. YouTube to TikTok, Instagram to Facebook, LinkedIn to X/Twitter, or Pinterest to Rumble. |
| language | string | No | Preferred caption language as an ISO code, e.g. "en". Defaults to auto-detect. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the YouTube Shorts Summarizer API do?
The YouTube Shorts Summarizer API lets you generate an AI summary with key points and topics from a public YouTube video using one GET request to /v1/youtube/shorts/summarize. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or scraping setup required.
How many credits does the YouTube Shorts Summarizer API cost?
Each successful call costs 4 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. Failed or empty results are never charged.
Do I need a YouTube API key or OAuth?
No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Rumble. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.
Which AI model powers the summaries?
Summaries are generated with GPT-4o-mini for a strong balance of quality, speed, and cost, built on top of the video transcript.
Is the YouTube Shorts Summarizer API suitable for production use?
Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON, automatic retries, and a shared 24-hour cache. Use it for RAG pipelines, analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
Ready to get an AI summary of a YouTube short?
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Get your free API key