YouTube is set to introduce a new feature similar to Google’s AI Overviews, enhancing its search capabilities on the platform. The video streaming service is rolling out an “AI-powered search results carousel” for select YouTube Premium users in the United States. This functionality will be activated when users search for topics related to shopping, travel, or activities in specific locations, according to a recent blog announcement.
Illustrated in a shared video demonstration, the search results carousel will feature a prominent video clip at the top, accompanied by thumbnail previews of additional relevant videos directly beneath it. An AI-generated text snippet will also provide answers to the user’s search inquiry. Users can access the full video by clicking on the main clip displayed at the top of the carousel.
Currently, this feature is only available on iOS and Android devices for videos in English. The testing phase is slated to continue until July 30th. YouTube has indicated that access will be limited to a randomly chosen group of Premium subscribers, as detailed in a support document.
In addition to this new feature, YouTube is expanding a conversational AI tool that allows users to ask questions about specific videos. This capability is now being made available to some non-Premium users in the United States, having been initially launched in 2023.
