Key facts
- YouTube is integrating its AI-powered conversational search feature, 'Ask YouTube,' with shopping capabilities.
- The enhanced feature will provide organized product recommendations and comparison tables.
- Users can ask follow-up questions directly on video watch pages.
- Over 140 million people used Ask YouTube in June, a 500% increase since December.
- The feature uses a custom Gemini model to map complex questions to specific video timestamps.
YouTube is expanding the capabilities of its AI-powered conversational search feature, 'Ask YouTube,' to directly assist users in their shopping decisions. The company announced the upcoming enhancements at its Made on YouTube event on Wednesday.
Initially launched as an experimental conversational search tool, 'Ask YouTube' allows users to make detailed, natural language queries. The feature then compiles relevant video results, including Shorts and long-form content, to guide users through topics such as travel planning or skill acquisition.
The new shopping-focused features will enable users to receive organized product recommendations, potentially including comparison tables that detail various product attributes and categories based on user preferences. Additionally, users will have the ability to ask follow-up questions directly on the video watch page.
YouTube stated that these changes are a response to observed user behavior, where viewers increasingly rely on creators for product information and recommendations. The company reported that 'Ask YouTube' was used by over 140 million people in June, marking a significant 500% increase since December. Emily Moxley, VP of Product Management for Viewer AI at YouTube, attributed this growth to a custom Gemini model that efficiently connects complex viewer questions to precise answers within videos, fostering a more immediate connection between viewers and creators.