15 Sources
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YouTube is testing an AI-powered search feature that shows guided answers | TechCrunch
Users often search for recipes and travel plans on YouTube to find videos related to their queries. Now, the video platform will offer a new tool to cater to those users' needs with its introduction of an AI-powered interactive search feature that presents step-by-step results along with a mix of both text and video. Through this new "Ask YouTube" feature, users can ask questions like "plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara" and get step-by-step results, which would be a mix of text, short videos, and longer videos instead of just video results. The company says it will show videos and relevant video segments with titles and channel details to help users discover new creators. What's more, users can ask follow-up questions like "Where can I get good coffee?" and get suggestions in a similar style. The feature is available to Premium subscribers in the U.S. who are aged 18 or older. (Interested users will need to opt into this experiment through this URL.) Google noted that it is working on making this feature available to non-Premium users, as well. Google has been pushing its AI mode-styled search on multiple surfaces beyond YouTube. The company introduced AI mode last year, letting users ask multi-part questions and follow-ups. This year, it introduced side-by-side web browsing and product price exploration features for AI mode. The company also introduced Gemini's Canvas feature to maintain projects within AI mode last month. With this new feature test on YouTube, Google could later explore surfacing different kinds of videos and, along with sponsored placements.
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Google is testing AI chatbot search for YouTube
Google is trying out an AI Mode-like search experience for YouTube. The company is now testing "a new way to search on YouTube that feels more like a conversation," with results pulling in things like longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and text about what you're searching for. The "experiment" is now available if you're a YouTube Premium subscriber in the US who is 18 or older. I turned it on for my account. Now, in the search bar, I see an "Ask YouTube" button, and clicking the search bar shows prompts to ask like "funny baby elephant playing clips," "summary of the rules of volleyball," and "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing." If I keep the search box blank but click the Ask YouTube button, YouTube takes me to a full page with suggested searches and a text box to ask a question. When you search with Ask YouTube, YouTube briefly shows a mostly-blank page with a loading icon, and after a few seconds, fills it out with text and details. I tested it with the "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing" prompt. At the top of the results was a bunch of text summarizing the mission, including a bulleted list of milestones like the date of the lunar landing and Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon. Then, the page included a video about the launch timestamped to a section about the launch day from a channel called "The Life Guide," followed by galleries of videos under headers like "From Launch to Splashdown," "Historic Footage and Behind-the-Scenes," and a series of Shorts about "Moments on the Surface." (I assume YouTube is pulling the text for these sections from the videos highlighted in the search results.) At the end, the page has a few more suggested prompts, including "Who were the Apollo 11 astronauts" and (perhaps worryingly) "Apollo 11 conspiracy theories," and a text box I can use to ask a follow-up question or start a new search. I clicked the "Who were the Apollo 11 astronauts" and got a new, slightly differently-formatted set of results, including a grid with background about astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Searching for "Apollo 11 conspiracy theories" just showed a typical list of YouTube search results, however. I threw Ask YouTube another test to see how it fared with something I'm very familiar with: Valve's new Steam Controller, which I published a review of today. I asked, "What is the Steam Controller," and YouTube gave an overview of the controller, pointed to Valve's new video about the controller, and highlighted both longform reviews and a "Quick Hands-On Reviews" section featuring Shorts (including our new Short published today and one from last November). It was all mostly right, but I did catch a factual flub: YouTube claimed that the old, discontinued Steam Controller had no joysticks, when it actually has one. It was a reminder that, as potentially useful as these AI-created search result pages might seem, you need to do your due diligence to make sure they're accurate. YouTube says it's already "working on" expanding this experiment to users who don't have Premium. Just as it's continued to iterate on AI Mode and brought AI Mode to Gmail, it seems likely that "Ask YouTube" is something Google sees a big future for.
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Is YouTube an AI Search Engine Now? Google Tests New In-App AI Chatbot
Google is testing a conversational AI search feature for YouTube that responds to queries with text summaries and video recommendations. As The Verge reports, the new feature, Ask YouTube, is placed toward the right of the regular search bar. If you tap the new button, you'll be taken to a chatbot-like interface that has a prompt box at the bottom and a set of suggested prompts above it. You can ask the chatbot about anything, from fixing a leaky bathroom and planning an anniversary dinner to seeking information about Mars or the economy. It will respond with a combination of text and video recommendations. The text will have a summary in bullet points, while suggested videos could be long-form or Shorts. If you need more information, you can ask follow-up questions. Though Google hasn't confirmed what powers Ask YouTube, it's likely that Gemini AI tools gather information from videos uploaded to the platform. It is not to be confused with the existing "Ask" button (with the Gemini spark logo) you see under a video you're watching. That button only responds to queries about that particular video. To test the broader Ask YouTube feature, you must be at least 18 years old, live in the US, and have a YouTube Premium subscription. You'll also need to manually enable the feature for your account from YouTube Labs. The cost of the YouTube Premium plan, meanwhile, went up from $13.99 per month to $15.99 earlier this month. The annual plan also got a hike, going from $139.99 to $159.99.
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YouTube is testing an AI search mode that 'feels more like a conversation'
Google is determined to impose AI search onto as many of its products as possible, and the latest, er, victim is YouTube. A new feature called "Ask YouTube" will let you pose complex questions and receive "comprehensive results that include video and text, then ask follow ups to dive deeper," Google explained on its YouTube Labs page. The experimental feature is available starting today until June 8 for Premium US subscribers 18 and older. To use it, first, enable the feature in your account. Then, click on the new "Ask YouTube" button in the search bar and you'll see prompt suggestions, or you can enter your own, like "plan a 3-day road trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara." After getting the results, you can try follow-up questions or choose from suggested prompts to explore in more detail. As shown in The Verge's quick test, the prompt "short history of Apollo 11 moon landing" brought up a summary of the mission, along with videos and time stamps for relevant information. Follow-up questions yielded similar results, but some queries just showed a list of videos like you'd see in a classic YouTube search. As happens with AI, one of the searches (around a Steam Controller) yielded factually inaccurate information, according to The Verge's Jay Peters. Tech companies love AI a lot more than the public, and YouTube users are particularly passionate about hating AI-generated slop. YouTube's AI search function may fare better with subscribers, but only if it helps them find quality content more quickly.
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YouTube is testing a chat-style search that cuts the scrolling
The feature is limited to US-based YouTube Premium users (18+) and runs as a test until June 8. YouTube search has looked the same for what feels like forever. You type in a few words, see a list of thumbnails, and hope the third or fourth video actually helps. Now, though, Google is quietly testing an AI-powered search mode that turns YouTube from a basic video library into more of a tech-savvy concierge, at least for Premium users. The feature is called Ask YouTube. From today until June 8, US-based YouTube Premium subscribers who are 18 or older can opt in via the YouTube Labs page, the platform said in a help page. When you enable it, a new button shows up in the search bar. Tap it, and instead of just searching, you start a conversation. If you ask for something like "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing," YouTube will give you a short summary with bullet points, such as the lunar landing date and Armstrong's first step, instead of just video titles. You'll also see timestamps in a related video and collections of longer videos and Shorts. However, The Verge pointed out that one test about a "Steam Controller" gave incorrect information. Anyway, this is still an experiment, not a finished product. It's best to treat every AI-generated fact with a healthy side of skepticism. What sets Ask YouTube apart is that you can ask follow-up questions. For example, if you ask, "Plan a 3-day road trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara," you might see vlogs, route guides, and text tips all on one page. While many YouTube viewers dislike AI-generated content, this feature isn't about creating fake videos. It's meant to help you find quality content faster, as long as the AI gets the details right. Google will collect data until June 8. If Premium users try it out and don't quit over bad answers, the feature could roll out more widely. If not, it will likely end up with other abandoned experimental search tabs.
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Google transforms YouTube into Search with new experimental AI mode
Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. As a person who uses YouTube every day, I like where it's at right now. It offers a lot of great content with long and short-form videos, plus you can use Gemini to get the details you want from a video if you're really short on time or just want the cliff notes. However, it looks like YouTube is now experimenting with something new, offering a big change when it comes to search. The brand's latest experiment tries to enhance the YouTube search bar experience by offering more data at a glance. Do people really want this? You can check out the details on YouTube's experimental features page for Premium members. The search bar feels more like something you'd see with Gemini, allowing users to have a conversation in order to get the results they are looking for. When searching on YouTube, users will be hit with text, images, and even video results in this new experimental mode. You can even ask follow-up questions if needed, and YouTube will even present some additional prompts that might be worth looking at. As you can imagine, blending these two worlds together can get a little messy. But for the most part, it seems to work quite well, as The Verge experimented with it. While it is pretty good, it did manage to make some mistakes. But we've worked with AI long enough to know that this is to be expected. YouTube even highlights this before starting to engage with this feature, stating that AI can get things wrong, and has that as part of its introduction to the project on the feature page, sharing that "quality and accuracy may vary." Subscribe for clear takes on YouTube's AI experiments If you want to follow YouTube's AI-powered search experiments and similar product changes, subscribe to our newsletter for focused analysis, clear context, and concise summaries that make these developments easier to understand. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. For the time being, this will only be available to YouTube Premium members. And it can only be used on the desktop version of YouTube. However, the brand is looking to expand the feature to more users in the future. And we can already see this going to the mobile app as well at some point. If you're a Premium member, you can head to the feature page to unlock it if you want to give it a try. Personally, I'm going to stick with the usual search that I've been using for over a decade. I just want to enjoy some videos; I don't need all that extra content on YouTube. The experience already feels like a mess. Why make it even more complicated and jumbled?
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YouTube is turning into an answer engine with a new conversational search feature
Google sprinkled some AI magic on YouTube search and it actually worked. YouTube Premium subscribers in the US (18 years and older) have something new to play with. As reported by The Verge, the company is testing a conversational AI search experience called Ask YouTube that is unlike anything YouTube has offered before. So what exactly is Ask YouTube? Instead of typing keywords into a search bar and hoping for the best, you can now ask YouTube a full question and get a response that feels more like a conversation. You can enable this feature using YouTube's experimental feature. Once you do, you will notice an Ask YouTube button built into the YouTube search bar. When you click the search bar, YouTube surfaces suggested prompts like "What caused the 2008 financial crisis?" or "How to fix a stripped screw." These might be trending searches or based on your own YouTube history. You can either search for these trending search terms or enter your own search term and hit the Ask YouTube button to perform the search. When I searched for "prisoners' dilemma", YouTube gave me a text overview followed by a featured video. Recommended Videos Then there were additional videos under different subheadings, including "step-by-step logic of the dilemma" and "real-world applications," followed by quick concept overviews using shorts. I performed multiple searches and found that the search results are a mix of text summaries, long-form videos timestamped to relevant sections, and galleries of YouTube Shorts organized under themed headers. It is a genuinely different experience from the standard search results page. Does it actually work? In my limited testing, the AI search worked really well. Not only did it give me an overview of the topic and relevant videos, but I also liked that it sorted them into different categories, giving me an idea of their content. Whether it's better or worse than the normal YouTube search, I cannot comment. I will need to use it for longer to make any such assessment.
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You Can Now Talk to YouTube's AI About What Kinds of Videos You Want to Watch
YouTube Premium subscribers can try this new search feature right now, but should be aware of the risks of hallucination or incorrect answers. Searching for a video on YouTube hasn't changed much in the past 20 years: You launch the site, bypass the algorithmic recommendations, and enter your query. I've found this to be a relatively reliable method for finding a video I'm looking for. In my experience, if it doesn't pop up in a search, that usually means YouTube doesn't have the video in question. But we're now in 2026, which means I can only wonder: Why isn't YouTube search powered by AI? Sarcasm aside, AI search is of course something Google is working on. As reported by The Verge, the company is testing a new search experience that takes a page from its "AI Mode" feature in Google Search. The idea, as the company sees it, is to make searching on YouTube feel more like a "conversation." Rather than enter simple keywords or a video's title, you can ask "complex questions," which the AI will use to return results that may include both text and video. You can then ask follow-ups to "dive deeper." If you're using YouTube to find a funny video, this might sound like AI overkill. But it seems the use case here is for users who might be relying on YouTube for research, or to answer specific questions. In its description of the feature, YouTube suggests asking its AI to "plan a 3-day road trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara." That's the type of question Google and other companies have pitched for their AI web search tools, and I'm guessing Google sees a particular advantage with YouTube, which can tap into its enormous content library to generate answers to complex questions. That work might already happen over in AI Mode in Google Search, but this tool captures the audience that might be searching specifically on YouTube. The Verge's Jay Peters gave the new AI search feature a try, first by searching, "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing." YouTube's AI results started with a text-based summary of the mission and walked through some highlights associated with the moon landing. The AI called out one video in particular, bringing Peters to a specific moment for information on the launch day itself. Beneath these results were a series of videos and shorts, all covering different Apollo 11 topics -- pretty standard. That said, the bottom of the results, YouTube offered more prompts to try, including "Apollo 11 conspiracy theories," suggesting the AI isn't afraid to point users towards more fringe conversations and topics. Peters noted that when he tried the same with a question about the new Steam Controller, YouTube's AI made an error, suggesting that the old Steam Controller did not ship with joysticks. (It did; or, at least, one.) It's possible the AI was pulling from an incorrect source, or happened to hallucinate the wrong answer. Either way, the example highlights that AI remains far from perfect, and while the speed and volume of these search results might suggest that the answers are reliable, you always need to double-check the AI's work. As of this writing, only YouTube Premium subscribers are eligible to test this new AI search. Assuming you have a subscription, enter a question in the YouTube search bar, then choose "Ask YouTube" before locking in your query. If you're not satisfied with the answer, you can ask follow-up questions to continue the "conversation." YouTube says this feature is available to Premium users until June 8. It's not clear whether the company will roll out the option as a full feature on that date, or will deprecate it for the time being.
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YouTube tests AI-powered Ask YouTube search feature
Google is testing an AI Mode-like search experience on YouTube called "Ask YouTube," currently available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. who are 18 or older, according to The Verge. The experiment generates a page of information that resembles a conversational interface, integrating longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and relevant text based on user queries. "Ask YouTube" appears as a button in the search bar, prompting users with suggested queries like "funny baby elephant playing clips" and "summary of the rules of volleyball." When users click the button after leaving the search box blank, they access a page with curated search suggestions and a text box for further inquiries. The platform briefly displays a loading icon while retrieving results. For instance, a search for "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing" yields a summary of the mission, alongside a bulleted list of significant milestones, including the lunar landing date and Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon. Additional results feature a video from "The Life Guide" and galleries under categories like "From Launch to Splashdown." Autocomplete suggestions also include queries like "Who were the Apollo 11 astronauts" and "Apollo 11 conspiracy theories." Searching for the astronauts provides a grid format with detailed profiles on Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, while the conspiracy theories prompt standard YouTube search results. Another search for "What is the Steam Controller" offered an overview and linked to Valve's promotional video, highlighting both longer reviews and YouTube Shorts. However, YouTube inaccurately stated that the discontinued Steam Controller lacked joysticks, highlighting the need for users to verify AI-generated information. YouTube is planning to expand the "Ask YouTube" feature to non-Premium users, reflecting its potential similar to other AI initiatives within Google's suite of services. The company aims to enhance user interaction and information retrieval on its platform.
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Google is quietly changing how you find videos on YouTube
YouTube search has always worked the same way. You type some keywords, scroll through a list of results, and take your best guess. Google wants to change that, and a new experiment called Ask YouTube is its first real attempt to do so. The feature is live now as an opt-in test for YouTube Premium subscribers in the US who are 18 or older. It's desktop-only and available in English until June 8, unless Google decides to extend it. To try ask YouTube AI search, you'll need to enable it through your account at youtube.com/new. Once it's on, an "Ask YouTube" button appears next to the search bar. From there, you type a question, and instead of getting a standard list of videos, you get a text summary, a featured video linked to a relevant timestamp, and galleries of both longform videos and Shorts organized by theme. The Verge tested it with a few prompts, including a short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the results pulled a summary of the mission alongside relevant clips. There's a follow-up prompt system too, so you can keep the conversation going without starting a new search. What's actually different here This isn't the first time YouTube has poked at the idea of conversational AI. Back in 2023, YouTube started testing an Ask button on individual videos, letting you ask questions about the content you were already watching. That feature eventually expanded to Premium members and then rolled out more broadly. Ask YouTube takes the same concept but points it at the whole platform instead of a single video. It's also part of a bigger pattern from Google. AI Mode in Google Search uses the same back-and-forth search logic, and Google has been rolling that out steadily since last year. Bringing a similar experience to YouTube makes sense, given that a lot of people already use the platform like a search engine. The test ends June 8, and YouTube hasn't shared anything about how Ask YouTube picks which video gets the top citation spot. For now, it's early. But if the experiment holds up, keyword-driven search on YouTube could start looking pretty outdated.
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YouTube's 'Ask YouTube' AI Chatbot Offers Smart Replies With Videos, Shorts
The answer includes long-form content, Shorts, and informative text YouTube is testing a conversational AI search experience called "Ask YouTube". This new feature marks a shift from the existing search pattern available on YouTube and allows users to ask a full question to the platform instead of using keywords, diving deeper into topics in a more interactive way. The Google-owned video-sharing platform will offer detailed results for queries that combine text, long-form videos, and Shorts. It also lets users ask follow-up questions. This experimental tool is currently available in select markets. How the 'Ask YouTube AI' Chatbot Works YouTube is experimenting with a new "Ask YouTube" feature, as outlined on Google's YouTube Labs page. This experiment is live now and is available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US who are 18 and older. The feature adds a new Ask YouTube button within the search bar, and tapping this will show suggested prompts. If a user clicks the Ask YouTube button without entering a query, a full-page interface will be shown with recommended searches and a text box for questions. Photo Credit: Google Google has also shared a video on its support page demonstrating how the Ask YouTube feature works. It appears to be A different experience from the standard search results page. For example, a user can ask for help planning a three-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara and receive a step-by-step itinerary instead of just a list of videos. The answer includes long-form content, Shorts, and informative text, including must-visit spots, attractions on the way and local tips. Users can also search further with follow-up questions, like where to find good coffee on the way. Google says the Ask YouTube feature will highlight relevant videos and video segments, along with titles and channel information, making it easier to discover creators and jump straight to useful content. YouTube says it is already working on bringing it to non-Premium users in the future.
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YouTube's new AI search feature 'Ask YouTube' changes everything with step-by-step answers and smart video results
YouTube has launched a new AI search feature called "Ask YouTube" to make searching smarter and easier. People already go to YouTube to search for things like recipes, travel ideas, and how-to guides. This new feature changes the normal search system by giving direct answers instead of only showing video lists, according to Google. The results are shown step-by-step so users can easily follow instructions and understand things better, as stated by Google via TechCrunch. The answers include a mix of text, short video clips, and full-length videos in one place. For example, if someone asks for a "3-day road trip plan from San Francisco to Santa Barbara," the tool will give a full plan in steps. The feature also highlights video titles, channel names, and specific parts of videos so users can explore more creators. Users can ask follow-up questions like "Where can I get good coffee?" and still get answers in the same step-by-step format, as stated in the report by TechCrunch. Right now, this feature is only available for Premium users in the United States who are 18 years or older. Users who want to try it must opt into the experiment before they can use it. Google has said it is planning to expand this feature to non-Premium users in the future. This update is part of Google's bigger plan to bring AI into all its search products, not just YouTube. Last year, Google launched AI mode which allows users to ask multiple and complex questions in one search. This year, Google added more tools like side-by-side web browsing and product price comparison inside AI mode. Google also introduced Gemini's Canvas feature recently to help users manage and continue their AI-based work, as noted by TechCrunch. In the future, Google may also add sponsored content or ads into these AI search results on YouTube. Q1. What is Ask YouTube AI feature? It is a new AI tool by YouTube that gives step-by-step answers using videos and text instead of just search results. Q2. Who can use Ask YouTube right now? Right now, only Premium users in the U.S. aged 18+ can try it, as shared by Google.
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Youtube's next search mode feels more like a conversation
Google is clearly pushing AI search onto almost all of their products, and Youtube is no stranger to this. According to Engadget, a new feature called Ask YouTube will let you pose complex questions and receive "comprehensive results that include video and text, then ask follow ups to dive deeper". Unfortunately you need to live in the US to try this experimental feature, and it is available starting today until June 8th for Premium US subscribers, who are 18 and older. First you need to enable the feature in your account. Then you may click on the new "Ask YouTube" button in the search bar and you'll see prompt suggestions. You can of course enter your own, like "plan a 3-day road trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara". After you have gotten a result, you can try follow-up questions or choose from suggested prompts to explore in more detail. This was tested by The Verge and, as it tends to be with AI when it comes to new and current events, one of the searches concerning a Steam Controller yielded factually inaccurate information. Time will tell, how well this new AI search is received among Youtube users.
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YouTube joins Google's AI race with a new search feature
YouTube is launching "Ask YouTube" - a tool that allows subscribers to receive a combined text and video answer to complex queries. Google continues to push artificial intelligence into every possible corner of its ecosystem, and the next target is YouTube. As part of its new experiment, the company is launching a feature called "Ask YouTube" - a search tool that aims to change the way users find content on the platform. Instead of settling for a list of videos, users can ask complex questions and receive combined answers of text, video, and guidance for further exploration. The feature is currently available in a limited rollout to YouTube Premium subscribers in the United States, over the age of 18, and will operate until June 8 as part of the YouTube Labs testing program. To use it, it must be enabled through the settings, after which a new button will appear in the search bar. From there, users can choose ready-made suggestions or type free-form queries - for example, planning a three-day trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. The result, at least according to initial tests, is an experience that tries to feel like a conversation: A summarized answer, relevant video clips with timestamps, and the option to ask follow-up questions. For example, a search about the history of the Apollo 11 landing presented a summary alongside focused videos. However, not every query yields "smart" answers - sometimes the result is simply a regular list of videos, as would be received in a classic search. As expected, the familiar problems of AI also arise here. In one case, according to a test by The Verge website, the system provided completely incorrect information. This is a reminder that despite the progress, the technology is still not fully stable. In the background, the gap between the enthusiasm of tech companies and the sentiment of users is particularly noticeable. The YouTube audience is known to be suspicious of content that is created or mediated by artificial intelligence, and sometimes even hostile toward it. Therefore, the success of the new feature will not be measured only by its technical capabilities - but by a simpler question: Does it really help find good content faster, or does it just add an unnecessary layer on top of what already works.
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YouTube can soon let you chat your way to videos with new AI search feature
Currently limited to select YouTube Premium users in the US, with a wider rollout expected later. Google is currently testing a new AI-powered search experience for YouTube that aims to make content discovery more conversational. This is an experimental feature that is currently available to a limited number of YouTube Premium users in the United States aged 18 and up. According to reports, a few users have already received the Ask YouTube option within the search interface. Users can now enter queries in natural language and receive a combination of AI-generated summaries, curated long-form videos, Shorts, and contextual highlights. Rather than the traditional search result, the feature offers an overview of the topic that includes key points followed by the relevant video segments and content collections. For example, a search for the Apollo 11 Moon Landing will first offer a brief summary including milestones, related videos and Shorts. Further, the users can also continue the interaction by asking more questions. The feature also includes additional queries, which encourage deeper exploration of topics. However, early testing indicates that, while AI summaries are generally useful, they may occasionally contain inaccuracies, emphasising the importance of users verifying information. Also read: Duct AC vs floor mounted AC: Which one is better for your room and why The company has already implemented similar AI experiences in other products and is rumoured to expand this YouTube experiment beyond Premium users in the future. If it gets rolled out, the feature can change the way how users interact with video content.
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Google is rolling out Ask YouTube, an experimental AI-powered search feature that transforms how users find content on the platform. Available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US aged 18 and older until June 8, the feature delivers guided answers combining text summaries, timestamps, and video recommendations instead of traditional search results.
Google is testing a new AI-powered search feature called Ask YouTube that fundamentally changes how users interact with the video platform
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. The experimental feature, available exclusively to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US who are 18 or older, runs from today until June 8 and must be manually enabled through the YouTube Labs page5
. This marks Google's latest effort to integrate its AI capabilities across multiple platforms, extending the AI Mode-style search experience that previously appeared in other Google products.
Source: Lifehacker
The in-app AI chatbot appears as a new button in the search bar, transforming YouTube from a basic video library into what feels more like a tech-savvy concierge
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. When users click the Ask YouTube button, they can pose complex queries like "plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara" and receive comprehensive results that blend video and text summaries1
. The platform delivers step-by-step guided answers featuring a mix of longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and text explanations rather than just a standard list of video thumbnails.
Source: Engadget
What sets this YouTube AI search apart is its ability to handle follow-up questions naturally. Users can ask initial queries and then dive deeper with additional questions like "Where can I get good coffee?" to receive suggestions in a similar conversational style
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. The feature displays videos with relevant timestamps and channel details, potentially improving content discovery by helping users find new creators1
.The Verge tested the experimental feature with queries about Apollo 11 and found that Ask YouTube generated text summaries with bullet points highlighting key milestones, including the lunar landing date and Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon
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. Search results included timestamped videos and organized galleries under headers like "From Launch to Splashdown" and "Historic Footage and Behind-the-Scenes"2
.However, testing also exposed factual inaccuracies that raise concerns about reliability. When asked about the Steam Controller, YouTube's AI claimed the old, discontinued version had no joysticks when it actually has one
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. This error serves as a reminder that users need to verify AI-generated content rather than accepting it at face value, even as these tools promise to streamline the user experience.Related Stories
Google noted it is working on making this feature available to non-Premium users, signaling broader ambitions for the technology
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. The company has been actively pushing AI Mode-styled search across multiple surfaces, having introduced AI Mode last year with multi-part questions and follow-up capabilities. This year saw the addition of side-by-side web browsing and product price exploration features, plus Gemini's Canvas feature for maintaining projects within AI Mode1
.Source: Android Authority
Though Google hasn't confirmed the underlying technology, Ask YouTube likely relies on Gemini AI tools to gather information from videos uploaded to the platform
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. The feature differs from the existing "Ask" button with the Gemini spark logo that appears under individual videos, which only responds to queries about that specific video3
.The shift toward AI-generated summaries and curated search results could significantly impact how creators reach audiences and how users find quality content. Google indicated it could later explore surfacing different types of videos along with sponsored placements, suggesting potential monetization opportunities
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. This approach may help users cut through endless scrolling to find relevant content faster, provided the AI delivers accurate information consistently.YouTube users have historically expressed strong opposition to AI-generated slop on the platform, but this feature aims to enhance rather than replace human-created content
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. The success of Ask YouTube will likely depend on whether it genuinely helps subscribers discover valuable videos more efficiently or simply adds another layer of potentially unreliable information. Google will collect data until June 8 to determine whether the feature merits wider deployment or joins the list of abandoned experimental search tabs5
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