YouTube is venturing into the world of generative AI features, aiming to enhance user experiences for premium subscribers. Among these features, a conversational tool powered by AI will enable users to ask questions about YouTube’s content and receive recommendations. Another innovative tool will summarize topics discussed in video comments.
These features will be accessible via YouTube’s experimentation hub, on an opt-in basis. The conversational tool will debut in a few weeks, while the comments summarization tool will be tested with a select group of users who sign up for the experiment on the website.
The conversational tool leverages large language models to generate responses, utilizing information from YouTube and the web. Its purpose is to enable users to delve deeper into the content they are viewing. Users can inquire about the current video, request recommendations for similar content, and engage in these conversations without interrupting their video playback.
Initially, this feature will be available to U.S. users on Android devices via a new “Ask” option on the video’s watch page. YouTube Premium members can opt into this test, with broader availability in the coming weeks.
The comments summarizer employs generative AI to organize and summarize topics discussed within large comment sections beneath videos. This tool not only benefits viewers in keeping up with discussions but also provides creators with insights into their subscribers’ interests without having to sift through comments individually. This can inspire creators to develop new videos based on comment topics, with the ability to delete comments appearing under certain topics.
It’s important to note that topic summarization is based on published comments, excluding those held for review or containing blocked words from blocked users. The experiment, currently available only in English, is running on a limited number of videos.
YouTube plans to continue testing these AI features over the coming weeks and months while collecting valuable feedback from users. This endeavour is part of Google’s wider experimentation with AI in various products and services. These AI-driven tools hold the potential to enhance the YouTube experience, offering users more personalized and informative interactions while providing creators with valuable insights into their content’s impact on audiences.
While the features are experimental, YouTube is committed to refining and improving them based on user feedback, making AI a more integral part of the platform’s future. Users can directly submit feedback through the tools themselves, ensuring a collaborative development process that caters to user needs and preferences.
