YouTube is experimenting with a new feature that uses artificial intelligence to create AI-driven video search overviews, highlighting useful clips from videos without users needing to click on them.
How the New AI Overview Feature Works
According to Google, this feature surfaces highlighted video snippets that are likely the most relevant to a user's search query. Instead of summarizing entire videos, the AI pinpoints specific clips to help users find information more quickly.
Currently:
- The feature is available only to a small group of YouTube Premium members in the US.
- It supports English-language queries.
- It is most likely to appear when users search for products or locations—for example, queries like "best noise cancelling headphones" or "museums to visit in San Francisco."
Different Approach Compared to Google Search
While similar to Google Search's AI overviews, YouTube's version does not generate textual summaries of videos. Instead, it directly highlights clips without requiring users to open full videos, offering a faster way to access information.
Limitations and Early Observations
At this stage, it's not fully clear how the AI selects which clips are most useful. However, users may find some reassurance knowing that YouTube's AI isn't likely to invent bizarre explanations the way Google's AI sometimes does.
Previously, users had fun tricking Google's AI into fabricating meanings for nonsensical phrases like "you can't lick a badger twice" simply by adding "meaning" at the end of a made-up phrase. This phenomenon became a humorous internet trend, highlighting the tendency of AI models to invent answers when faced with unfamiliar queries.
Fortunately, YouTube's implementation appears more restrained, focusing only on relevant content selection from actual videos.
Comments