YouTube Tests AI Ask YouTube Search for Premium Users

YouTube has begun testing "Ask YouTube," an experimental AI-driven search feature that delivers conversational responses combining text summaries, video recommendations, and YouTube Shorts to user queries. The feature, available now to U.S.-based Premium subscribers aged 18 and older, appears as a button next to the platform's search bar and runs through June 8.

To access it, users must enable the experiment via YouTube Labs or the Premium Early Access page, primarily on desktop in English. Once activated, clicking the "Ask YouTube" button leads to a dedicated interface with suggested prompts, such as "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing," "funny baby elephant playing clips," or "summary of the rules of volleyball." Users can enter their own questions, like planning a road trip or seeking information on topics from space missions to consumer products.

Results load after a brief delay, featuring a generated summary at the top, often with bulleted milestones or key points. For the Apollo 11 query, responses included a mission overview, the lunar landing date on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong's first steps, and a timestamped video from a channel like The Life Guide....