At Google I/O 2006, YouTube announced new AI search features designed to enhance user interaction with video content. Users will soon be able to ask conversational questions on the platform to locate specific answers or videos, mirroring the functionality of Google Search’s AI Mode but tailored for audiovisual material.
The feature, dubbed “Ask YouTube,” will compile both long-form videos and Shorts that are deemed relevant to the user’s queries. Users will have the option to ask follow-up questions to refine their search results further. The feature will also provide small text summaries to help users determine if the video content addresses their inquiries.
In addition to Ask YouTube, YouTube is integrating the Gemini Omni technology into its Create app and YouTube Shorts Remix. Gemini Omni is capable of generating content from various input types, including images, audio, video, and text, creating high-quality videos based on real-world knowledge. The initial rollout focuses on video generation within the YouTube context.
Moreover, users will have the flexibility to remix Shorts by adding their own prompts and images while keeping the original video’s context. Original creators of Shorts will have the option to opt-out of visual remixes. Google stated that Gemini Omni will “better understand user intent” to produce more consistent search results.
Currently, the Ask YouTube feature is available to YouTube Premium members in the United States via the YouTube Labs page. The integration of Gemini Omni is also in active rollout as of the announcement.
