YouTube is currently testing a new feature called AI Overviews, which presents users with a carousel of video snippets after certain search queries. This innovation aims to help users bypass watching entire videos by surfacing relevant short clips instead. The focus will primarily be on queries related to product information and tourist attractions, providing more precise results compared to traditional text summaries.
This initiative follows Google’s introduction of AI Overviews in their Search platform, which received a mixed reception due to instances of inaccuracies, such as misinterpreting humor and offering nonsensical advice. Over time, the functionality has improved, and now Google is attempting to implement a similar concept on YouTube. AI Overviews have started appearing in the search results for select users, providing a different format than those in Google Search.
According to YouTube, this feature manifests as a new video results carousel activated by specific search queries. The AI-curated clips contained within the carousel are intended to deliver relevant content related to users’ searches. Specifically, YouTube aims for these overviews to be most beneficial for users searching for product comparisons, like “best noise cancelling headphones,” or exploring activities in certain locations, such as “museums to visit in San Francisco.”
For now, this test is limited to a small group of YouTube Premium members in the United States who conduct searches in English. As it is currently in a trial phase, broader availability remains uncertain. Google is actively seeking feedback from participants, and more updates on the feature might be announced at the upcoming Google I/O event next month.
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