The YouTube application for smart televisions is rolling out a novel “Ask” capability that enables users to engage with an AI assistant while viewing videos. Initially trialed as a concealed option for YouTube Premium subscribers in 2023, “Ask” was officially released in 2024 for mobile and web users, becoming accessible to all users on those platforms by 2025. Now, users of smart TVs can also take advantage of this feature.
To activate the “Ask” functionality on a smart TV, users can tap the up or down arrow on their remote to display video details and hit the “Ask” button, identified by a four-pointed star icon. Alternatively, users can utilize their remote’s microphone button to verbally pose questions or click the on-screen microphone icon to engage their smart TV’s microphone or a paired device like a Google Nest speaker. For those lacking a microphone, suggested prompts related to the video’s context are provided for interaction.
The “Ask” feature is available to all logged-in users who comply with the minimum age regulations for their respective countries, though it is restricted to certain languages and regions. The rollout occurs gradually, so availability may differ depending on the locale.
The effectiveness of YouTube’s “Ask” AI feature is a topic of discussion. While the YouTube team claims it improves the viewing experience by enabling users to gather more information regarding content and discover related videos, some users might doubt its usefulness. YouTube’s Senior Director of Product Management, Kurt Wilms, pointed out that users have engaged with the feature to investigate specific segments in podcasts and learn about landmarks featured in travel vlogs without interrupting their videos. Nevertheless, some users may feel inundated by the omnipresence of AI, while others might appreciate it as a handy method to explore topics of interest in greater depth.