YouTube Launches AI Overviews-Style Search Carousel for Premium Users

YouTube said on Thursday that it is launching new AI-powered tools to make it easier for viewers to access information and content. In addition to testing conversational AI with additional users, the platform is introducing an AI-powered search results carousel similar to Google’s AI Overviews.

Only YouTube Premium subscribers in the US will have access to the new AI-powered search results carousel, which will help viewers find what they’re looking for more quickly by displaying brief AI-generated topic descriptions and suggesting films.

According to YouTube, searches for shops, places, or activities in a particular location will display the AI-powered search results carousel. When you search for “best beaches in Hawaii,” for instance, an AI-generated carousel featuring snippets from movies showing the top snorkeling spots and volcanic beaches will appear, along with more videos and details to assist you in making travel plans.

Google’s AI Overviews, a tool that displays AI-generated summaries of search results at the top of the Google Search results page, is somewhat similar to the new feature. Because creators depend on engagement to generate income on the site, the AI-powered search results carousel may be a bad move for them even though it would make discovery easier for consumers.

For example, a person might not click on the video if they can obtain the information they require straight from the carousel of AI-powered search results.

Two weeks after a Wall Street Journal study claimed that Google’s AI Overviews and other AI-powered tools are ruining traffic for news publishers, the AI-powered search results carousel was launched. Similar to how AI Overviews on Google Search have decreased referrals to news websites, YouTube creators might be worried that the new carousel feature will decrease interest in their videos.

The Google-owned website YouTube said that it is now allowing certain non-Premium users to use its conversational AI capability. The AI-powered conversational tool, which was first introduced in late 2023, provides viewers with video summaries, content recommendations, and additional information. You can use it to test yourself on important ideas in academic videos as well.

YouTube clarified at launch that the tool’s responses are produced by extensive language models that use data from the internet and YouTube. The purpose of the responses is to encourage viewers to learn more about the material they are viewing.

For example, the conversational AI tool will ask if you want it to “recommend related content” or “summarize the video” while you’re watching a roller skate dancing lesson. Additionally, you can pose your own queries, such as “What song is featured in this video?” and information like the song’s title, artist, genre, and more will be provided by the tool.