YouTube is enhancing its platform with new AI-powered features designed to streamline content discovery and interaction. Among these initiatives is an experimental AI-powered search results carousel, reminiscent of Google Search’s prominent AI Overviews.
What is the New AI Search Carousel?
Currently being tested with a limited group, this new feature appears for specific search queries on YouTube. It’s often labeled as “Highlights,” marked by Google’s distinctive AI star icon. When triggered by a relevant search – such as queries related to shopping, places, or activities in a particular location (like “best beaches in Hawaii”) – the carousel displays suggested videos and AI-generated topic descriptions.
The carousel initially shows a highlighted video clip, followed by several subsequent video thumbnails. Users can tap these to watch short excerpts directly within the carousel. Tapping again opens the full video on the creator’s channel. The accompanying AI provides concise titles and descriptions explaining how the video content aligns with the user’s query, aiming to offer quick insights.
Who Can Access It?
This AI search results carousel is part of a limited test rolling out exclusively to YouTube Premium subscribers within the United States. It is specifically available on Android and iOS mobile devices. The testing period is noted to run from June 26 to July 30.
User Convenience vs. Creator Concerns
The primary goal of the AI carousel is to make finding relevant video content faster and more efficient for users, similar to how Google’s AI Overviews aim to provide quick answers directly on the search results page.
However, the introduction of such a feature raises potential concerns for video creators. Creators depend on users clicking through to watch full videos for engagement and revenue. If users can gain sufficient information from the AI-generated descriptions or short clips within the carousel, they might be less likely to click on the full video. This mirrors concerns raised by news publishers and creators about the impact of Google Search’s AI Overviews potentially reducing traffic. YouTube creators fear a similar effect on their video views and overall engagement metrics.
Expansion of Conversational AI Tool
In addition to the search carousel, YouTube is also widening the availability of its separate conversational AI tool. First introduced in late 2023, this tool allows users to interact with an AI assistant via an “Ask” button, providing assistance without interrupting video playback.
This conversational AI leverages large language models trained on both YouTube content and the wider web to help users delve deeper into videos. It can summarize video content, recommend related videos, or answer specific questions about what’s being discussed. While initially limited to English-speaking Premium users on Android in the US, this tool is now being expanded to include some non-Premium users in the US, indicating a broader push for AI interaction on the platform.
Overall, YouTube’s integration of AI, from search carousels to conversational assistants, signals a significant evolution in how users discover and interact with video content, though the long-term impact on the creator ecosystem remains a key point of discussion.
