I wanted to share a project I recently completed that has significantly improved how I consume YouTube content. As someone who loves learning from YouTube but found myself spending too much time watching videos at accelerated speeds and skipping chapters, I decided to build a solution: TLDW (Too Long; Didn't Watch).

Why I Built TLDW
I was overwhelmed by the number of YouTube videos I wanted to watch but didn't have the time for. Watching videos at 2x speed and constantly skipping ahead wasn't efficient or enjoyable. I realized I needed a tool to summarize videos quickly, so I could get the essential points without watching the entire content.

What is TLDW?
TLDW is a Chrome extension that uses AI to summarize YouTube videos into concise bullet points. Here's how it works and what it offers:

• AI-Powered Summaries: TLDW uses LLAMA3 to generate accurate and coherent summaries of YouTube videos.
• Interactive AI: You can ask the AI for detailed explanations on specific points, ensuring you get all the necessary information.
• Free and Premium Plans: Enjoy up to 5 video summaries per day for free, or unlock unlimited access for just €1.90/month.
• Privacy Focused: No personal data is collected.
• Secure Payments: All transactions are processed securely via Stripe.

How I Built It
TLDW was developed using JavaScript, integrating with the LLAMA3 AI model to generate summaries. The extension extracts text from the video's transcription, which is then used to contextualize the AI's summary.

Challenges and Learnings
Building TLDW wasn't without its challenges. Here are a few key takeaways from the development process:

• Handling Video Transcriptions: Extracting and processing text from video transcriptions required precise handling to ensure accuracy.
• AI Integration: Integrating LLAMA3 for real-time summarization demanded significant fine-tuning to get the summaries just right.
• User Experience: Ensuring the extension was user-friendly and provided real value was crucial. Iterative feedback and testing helped refine the product.

Try TLDW
If you're like me and need to save time while staying informed through YouTube, give TLDW a try. You can find the extension on the Chrome Web Store.

Check out this quick video overview of TLDW:

I’d love to get your feedback and thoughts on how to improve it further. Thanks for reading!