(Credit: Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Google is testing a conversational AI search feature for YouTube that responds to queries with text summaries and video recommendations.
As The Verge reports, the new feature, Ask YouTube, is placed toward the right of the regular search bar. If you tap the new button, you’ll be taken to a chatbot-like interface that has a prompt box at the bottom and a set of suggested prompts above it.
You can ask the chatbot about anything, from fixing a leaky bathroom and planning an anniversary dinner to seeking information about Mars or the economy. It will respond with a combination of text and video recommendations. The text will have a summary in bullet points, while suggested videos could be long-form or Shorts. If you need more information, you can ask follow-up questions.
Though Google hasn’t confirmed what powers Ask YouTube, it's likely that Gemini AI tools gather information from videos uploaded to the platform. It is not to be confused with the existing “Ask” button (with the Gemini spark logo) you see under a video you’re watching. That button only responds to queries about that particular video.
To test the broader Ask YouTube feature, you must be at least 18 years old, live in the US, and have a YouTube Premium subscription. You’ll also need to manually enable the feature for your account from YouTube Labs.
The cost of the YouTube Premium plan, meanwhile, went up from $13.99 per month to $15.99 earlier this month. The annual plan also got a hike, going from $139.99 to $159.99.