Is YouTube an AI Search Engine Now? Google Tests New In-App AI Chatbot
Google is testing a new AI-powered chatbot feature on YouTube called 'Ask YouTube,' which provides text summaries and video recommendations in response to user queries. The feature appears as a button next to the search bar and offers a conversational interface with suggested prompts and follow-up capabilities. Responses combine bullet-point summaries with relevant long-form videos or Shorts, drawing likely from Gemini AI tools. Access is currently limited to U.S.-based users over 18 with a YouTube Premium subscription who manually enable it via YouTube Labs.
Full article excerpt tap to expand
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. You May Also Like window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; let data = {}; data.excoPlayListId = '683dd703f27d5e38f3432230'; data.excoPlayListVideos = {"05789424-de7f-4cf0-9f40-a67cccd11e2a":"07EKL7BF7gMSCXJNjQq0yXa","2fd360dd-c383-40df-9366-cb09c46d7166":"01FdKhKQ7GkSBI13TIKeroR","3d939899-af9f-4809-9237-35df11143c1a":"03A2xL1eYrS36sH05zq9kan","4b34694e-d46a-479a-808a-a2d4e5753c25":"02gthVYBn0i0eFdIdsGIxfY","4b7e6612-32ed-5d39-b259-399e146f8c81":"07lCXLkCiVGBnmpEPObIiFT","58b80bef-7338-5e02-9aad-47f54bf6c8e1":"01MERcLVuT09qJLCJBDdVWL","607cdedb-0eb0-4fa2-8993-5aabc5906a7e":"05wcyStMyACh4tgJwkKFEHe","69bf5ab3-5bf4-4e28-8404-be7ec51bf272":"06tU9Vng53gGIUBGJQhGqMR","7a54d7e2-1b2f-427e-854b-e7415dd259c0":"06cFW6nJPuJnCLtbMwvsYqz","7b6fc19c-d81a-4c07-b130-ab917cd9195b":"012Z22YhbcBrhKafaLdS8va","914c4eb5-5b81-497f-8304-c43307666495":"03SwavqVLljT0WVMf1lHAvN","a307be37-343f-563b-8a15-bc4c26707818":"07HlLQoMuCbTToSGOWUJlUa","a3dd1d53-adf1-5224-b620-59df819c1043":"01JQhSe5DlKa2u7jm2gUbaT","b29a8e35-f8f3-5a51-bccd-d5897b2507a9":"00ELr0UPi0JEFK4ymsgw0Vz","c34fe5db-2ecc-5420-bfc4-6e825c2f2937":"05NttaPQU5qiL9s72e68aM9","cefc6dfe-8573-59fa-b122-cc32c5a51dc7":"01y6MRL16mUf8N5ipuBFI0d","e65d6c92-50aa-4a6f-b548-81eeef5b38cd":"05uRJ9UTHTqKiZHiZLtytEq","f0d81315-a2b6-4903-9fbd-33a92aab8528":"03pv1PB5D16IQL4rvYYsJJw","f49abd71-519e-50a3-9bc8-d54c6018903c":"01oa4p9rNiNuCFZEwI4LkHh","fa843906-c9ed-477e-b194-e1d22abc7105":"071rMC8ffFpO0gb6FNP1Izs"}; window.videoEmbeds.push({ elemId: 'video-container-683dd703f27d5e38f3432230', data: data, videoPlayerType: 'related-contextual', variation: 'INJECTED', }); This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. Recommended by Our Editors Commercials Ruining YouTube? 8 Ad-Blocking Techniques That Still Work YouTube Now Lets You Turn Off Most Shorts, But Only on Mobile From a Booking.com Breach to YouTube Phishing: The Internet's Security Problem Just Got Worse This Week 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. About Our Expert Jibin Joseph Contributor…
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at PCMag.