YouTube is rolling out an AI-powered search results carousel, mirroring Google's AI Overviews, to enhance video discovery. This new feature aims to provide users with summarized information and curated video suggestions, making it easier to find relevant content. The tool is currently available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S., focusing on searches related to shopping, travel, and local activities.
The AI-powered search results carousel appears as a scrollable display of video thumbnails accompanied by AI-generated summaries. For example, a user searching for "best beaches in Hawaii" might see a carousel featuring video clips of snorkeling spots and volcanic beaches, along with brief descriptions and tips. Users can tap on the thumbnails to play AI-recommended clips directly from the carousel, potentially reducing the need to navigate away from the search page.
YouTube's conversational AI tool, initially launched in 2023, is also being expanded to some non-Premium users in the U.S.. This tool allows users to ask questions about videos, get recommendations, and even quiz themselves on key concepts in educational videos. The conversational AI uses large language models to gather information from YouTube and the web, providing contextual responses. For instance, while watching a cooking tutorial, users can ask the AI for ingredient substitutions or step-by-step breakdowns.
While the AI-powered search aims to improve content discovery and user engagement, it also raises concerns among content creators. The AI summaries might extract the most relevant information, potentially reducing the need for users to click on the full video. This could lead to a decrease in watch time and ad revenue for creators who rely on user engagement. Some reports indicate that news publishers have experienced decreased traffic due to similar AI-driven features on other platforms.
Several third-party AI tools are available to summarize YouTube videos, such as NoteGPT, Eightify, Notta, Krisp and Galaxy AI. These tools use AI to generate concise summaries of video content, helping users save time and grasp key information quickly. These summarizers can generate summaries and translate videos in multiple languages.
YouTube's introduction of AI-powered search tools reflects a broader trend in digital content consumption, with platforms leveraging AI to enhance user experience and streamline content discovery. As AI technology evolves, it is expected that YouTube will introduce more ways for AI to help users get the most out of the platform. YouTube is collecting user feedback to determine the future of its AI Overviews and potential broader rollout.
