Google is testing an AI Mode-like search experience on YouTube called “Ask YouTube,” currently available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. who are 18 or older, according to The Verge. The experiment generates a page of information that resembles a conversational interface, integrating longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and relevant text based on user queries.
“Ask YouTube” appears as a button in the search bar, prompting users with suggested queries like “funny baby elephant playing clips” and “summary of the rules of volleyball.” When users click the button after leaving the search box blank, they access a page with curated search suggestions and a text box for further inquiries.
The platform briefly displays a loading icon while retrieving results. For instance, a search for “short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing” yields a summary of the mission, alongside a bulleted list of significant milestones, including the lunar landing date and Neil Armstrong’s first step on the Moon. Additional results feature a video from “The Life Guide” and galleries under categories like “From Launch to Splashdown.”
Autocomplete suggestions also include queries like “Who were the Apollo 11 astronauts” and “Apollo 11 conspiracy theories.” Searching for the astronauts provides a grid format with detailed profiles on Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, while the conspiracy theories prompt standard YouTube search results.
Another search for “What is the Steam Controller” offered an overview and linked to Valve’s promotional video, highlighting both longer reviews and YouTube Shorts. However, YouTube inaccurately stated that the discontinued Steam Controller lacked joysticks, highlighting the need for users to verify AI-generated information.
YouTube is planning to expand the “Ask YouTube” feature to non-Premium users, reflecting its potential similar to other AI initiatives within Google’s suite of services. The company aims to enhance user interaction and information retrieval on its platform.
