YouTube · Guide

How to get an AI summary of a YouTube short

TL;DR

To get an AI summary of a YouTube short, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one 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.

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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": null,
    "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.
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 YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 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?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

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