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 […]
‘Ask YouTube’ is a new way to search that generates an AI Mode-like page of information.
‘Ask YouTube’ is a new way to search that generates an AI Mode-like page of information.
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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Key takeaways
- The new "Ask YouTube" feature enhances user interaction and aligns with global search trends.
- The feature could boost engagement with educational and entertainment content in Brazil.
- The inclusion of controversial search suggestions raises questions about Google's responsibility in content moderation.
Editorial analysis
The introduction of the "Ask YouTube" feature represents a significant evolution in how users interact with the video platform. By adopting a conversational approach, Google not only enhances the user experience but also aligns itself with global search trends, where interaction through natural language is becoming increasingly common. For the Brazilian tech sector, this may signal a shift in how local companies develop their own AI solutions, emphasizing the need for more intuitive and accessible interfaces.
Moreover, this new functionality could have direct implications for content consumption in Brazil. With a young and increasingly connected population, the ability to search for information in a more dynamic way could boost engagement with educational and entertainment content. This may also open up opportunities for content creators specializing in specific niches, as searching for less common topics may become easier and more accessible.
On the other hand, the implementation of search suggestions, including controversial topics like "Apollo 11 Conspiracy Theories," raises questions about the platform's responsibility in moderating the content presented. Google will need to find a balance between providing relevant information and avoiding the spread of misinformation. This will be an important point of focus, especially in a country like Brazil, where misinformation has a significant impact on public and political discussions.
What to watch for next is how Google plans to expand this feature to other markets, including Brazil, and whether there will be necessary cultural adaptations to meet local specifics. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how competitors, such as TikTok and Facebook, will respond to this innovation, especially in a landscape where competition for attention and engagement is increasingly fierce.
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