YouTube tests AI-powered search for guided results

YouTube is testing a new AI-powered interactive search feature, called “Ask YouTube,” designed to provide users with step-by-step results. The tool represents a shift in how users interact with the video platform, particularly when searching for complex topics. Instead of returning a standard list of video results, the “Ask YouTube” feature delivers a structured combination of text, short videos, and longer videos to answer detailed queries. For instance, a user can input a query like “plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara” and receive a guided response. The platform displays relevant videos and specific video segments, complete with titles and channel details, to help users discover new creators. Users can also ask follow-up questions, such as “Where can I get good coffee?”, and receive additional suggestions in the same interactive style.

Currently, the feature is in a testing phase and is limited to Premium subscribers—the paid tier of YouTube users—who are located in the U.S. and are aged 18 or older. To access the experiment, eligible users must manually opt in to the test. Google, the parent company of YouTube and developer of the AI features, noted that it is working on expanding this capability to non-Premium users as well. While the feature is currently focused on helping users plan and discover content, Google could explore surfacing different kinds of videos along with sponsored placements in the future as the tool develops.

The integration of “Ask YouTube” follows a broader, multi-platform push by Google to embed its AI mode search interface across its consumer ecosystem. Google first introduced its AI mode last year, which allowed users to ask multi-part questions and follow-up queries. The company has steadily added features to this interface; this year, Google introduced side-by-side web browsing and product price exploration tools within AI mode. Additionally, last month, Google introduced Gemini’s Canvas, a feature designed to help users maintain and manage ongoing projects directly within the AI mode interface.

Why it matters

This launch signals Google’s intent to transform YouTube from a passive video repository into an active planning tool, leveraging its AI models to compete with search-based planning interfaces.