Google launches Ask YouTube: a new way to chat with your favorite videos

Google’s push to embed its AI into every user touchpoint has reached a new level. Although for now it is a test limited to U.S. adults, Google has announced the launch of “Ask YouTube”, a new artificial intelligence-based tool that makes the boundaries between classic Google Search and the popular video platform increasingly blurred.

As the company explained in a brief statement, this is “a conversational search experience designed to complement the way you already search on YouTube”. The idea is that Ask YouTube will also allow users to dive deeper into the topics that interest them in a more interactive way.

As you may have already guessed, this is very similar to what Google already offers with AI Mode in Google Search.

Using it is, of course, very simple. You just need to select “Ask YouTube” in the search bar. One example provided by the company explains that you will be able to “ask for help planning a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, and you will get a structured step-by-step itinerary instead of a list of videos. The response will include a new mix of long-form videos, Shorts, and informative text with local tips and must-see spots”.

As a result of these queries, YouTube will offer users different relevant videos and video clips, along with their titles and channel details, so that they can easily discover new creators and access the most useful content for their search.

As with AI Mode, users will be able to go deeper into their research by asking additional questions such as “Where can I find good coffee?”, allowing them to discover new places along their route.

For now, this experiment is available to YouTube Premium members over 18 in the U.S. who sign up at youtube.com/new, although knowing how Google operates, if the experience proves successful, it likely will not take long to reach the rest of the world.

Image: Google, edited with ChatGPT