Users frequently search for recipes and travel plans on YouTube to find videos matching their queries. The video platform is introducing a new tool to address these needs: an AI-powered interactive search feature that provides step-by-step results using a combination of text and video.
With the new “Ask YouTube” feature, users can pose questions like “plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara” and receive detailed responses, including text, short videos, and longer videos instead of just video results. The company aims to display videos and pertinent video segments with titles and channel information to aid users in discovering new creators.
Moreover, users can ask additional questions like “Where can I get good coffee?” and receive suggestions in a similar format.
The feature is available to Premium subscribers in the U.S. who are 18 or older. Interested users must opt into this experiment through the provided URL. Google is working on extending this feature to non-Premium users as well.
Google has expanded its AI mode-style search across various platforms beyond YouTube. Last year, the company introduced AI mode, allowing users to ask complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups. It also launched side-by-side web browsing and product price exploration features for AI mode this year. Additionally, Google’s Gemini’s Canvas feature for maintaining projects was introduced within AI mode last month.
With the YouTube feature test, Google might later explore presenting different types of videos alongside sponsored placements.