YouTube launches AI Labs testing hub as Premium features expand

YouTube on Friday unveiled YouTube Labs, a new hub for testing artificial intelligence features on the platform, and simultaneously expanded several Premium subscriber features across more devices. The limited, U.S. rollout gives a select group of users early access to AI experiments, starting with AI-powered music hosts in the YouTube Music app that provide stories, fan trivia and commentary while listeners stream radio mixes.

YouTube described Labs as a place to explore the potential of AI on the service and said the initial experiment, called Beyond the Beat, inserts virtual hosts into radio streams to deliver background information and DJ-like commentary about artists and tracks. Participants who see the feature will find a new AI sparkle icon on the Now Playing screen between the thumbs up and comment buttons. Once switched on, the commentary remains enabled by default, though users can snooze it for one hour or for a day, the company said. YouTube cautioned that AI-generated commentary may contain errors and that experiments can be removed or altered without notice.

Access to Labs appears to be limited. YouTube said anyone can sign up, but only a small number of U.S.-based...