YouTube Tests Ask YouTube AI Replies in Search

YouTube Tests AI Replies on In-App Search

YouTube is experimenting with an expansion of its Ask YouTube responses that would give users artificial intelligence-generated replies for in-app search queries, not only for questions sent directly to Ask YouTube.

Ask YouTube is the platform’s in-stream chatbot. It lets users pose conversational queries and receive expanded overviews, along with recommendations for related videos.

Ask YouTube was made available to all U.S. users last week. YouTube has now begun showing some users AI-generated replies in search, rather than displaying only traditional keyword-matched video listings.

When Search Shows an Ask YouTube Response

YouTube explained the test: “If you are part of this experiment, you may see an Ask YouTube response at the top of your search results when a structured overview can add extra context beyond a standard list of videos, such as open-ended, how-to, or skill-based questions without a single right answer (like “how do I get marks off painted walls?”).”

YouTube said Ask YouTube will provide more comprehensive answers to queries, which could add value to more searches.

Follow-Up Questions and Standard Video Results

“When Ask YouTube responses appear in your search results, you can select ‘Show more’ to view the full response and ask follow-up questions, or simply scroll down to browse standard video results,” YouTube said.

Under the experiment, an Ask YouTube response can sit above the usual video listings. People in the test can open the full generated reply and continue the conversation, or move past it to the standard results.

Where the Expanded Answers Are Live

YouTube said the expanded AI answers are currently live “for select signed-in desktop users in the U.S. searching in English.”

The broader Ask YouTube chatbot is already available to all U.S. users. This separate test covers only some signed-in desktop users in the United States who search in English, and a response may appear when YouTube judges that a structured overview can add context beyond a list of videos.

like.tg continues monitoring social media platform updates as YouTube tests where Ask YouTube responses appear in search.