YouTube revealed on Wednesday that it is piloting a new feature on its platform that will incorporate Google Search’s AI Overviews. This experiment will allow users to view a carousel of video clips that relate to their inquiries. The feature, powered by Gemini technology, will shift the focus from text-based responses to video content, enhancing the way information is presented on YouTube. The initial testing phase will restrict this capability to specific topics, the company noted.
YouTube’s AI Overviews Feature Will Display Video Clips
In a statement on its support page, Google elaborated on the new initiative, indicating that it is currently accessible to a select group of YouTube Premium subscribers in the United States. Users who qualify will be able to enter a query in the YouTube search bar and receive AI-generated summary snapshots positioned at the top of the search results. For now, this feature supports only English language queries related to certain themes.
The video carousel will appear above the search results, displaying clips from various YouTube videos that are relevant to the user’s search. According to Google, this addition aims to offer “another way to discover content” while using YouTube’s search functionality, helping users explore topics and information linked to their queries.
A comparable feature has long been integrated into Google Search. When users search for topics better illustrated through video, the search engine often provides time-stamped YouTube links that highlight the relevant moments in the videos.
For instance, if someone is searching for a DIY video on fixing a chair with a broken leg, they can directly access parts of the video that focus on the repair, bypassing unrelated sections such as introductions or other repairs that are not relevant to their specific issue.
Additionally, Google has introduced “key moments” beneath videos in its search results, allowing users to view multiple clips with brief descriptions and timestamps to facilitate easier navigation through the content. Although YouTube has not disclosed the precise mechanics of its AI Overviews, it is expected to operate similarly.
Nonetheless, the company has specified that AI Overviews will not be available for every search. The feature’s rollout is currently limited to product searches, inquiries about locations, and recommendations related to those locations.
