Austin Evans says the biggest creator mindset shift is learning to think beyond the next video

The tech creator reflects on 17 years on YouTube, the influx of AI, and the metrics that matter now

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet the Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

VidCon is a premier global convention for content creators, influencers, digital media brands, and fans. The event features creator panels, networking opportunities, live entertainment, meet-and-greets, and discussions on trends shaping the creator economy.

After 17 years on YouTube, tech creator and Mashable 101 honoree Austin Evans has seen the creator economy evolve from an internet hobby into a full-fledged industry. Along the way, he's gone from solo creator to CEO, built a team, reinvented his content strategy, and learned that long-term success depends on thinking beyond the performance of any single video.

In this conversation with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell at VidCon 2026, Evans reflects on the mindset shifts that helped him build a sustainable career, why he transformed his channel from straightforward tech reviews into entertainment-driven content, and how his perspective on AI has evolved.

He also shares why he no longer obsesses over subscriber counts, the metric he now focuses on, and why he believes authenticity will continue to matter on an increasingly AI-powered internet.

Watch the full interview above.

Topics YouTube Creators VidCon

Crystal Bell

Digital Culture Editor

Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication's annual list recognizing the internet's most influential creators.

Previously, she was the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped expand the brand's coverage of fan culture, K-pop, and the internet's most passionate communities. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.

She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.