Google brings AI search carousel to YouTube Premium

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Google is adding a new AI-powered feature to YouTube that works a bit like its AI Overviews in Google Search. 

This feature, called an AI-powered search results carousel, shows up when some YouTube Premium users in the US search for things like shopping ideas, travel destinations, or activities to do in a specific place.

When you search for one of these topics, you’ll see a new results page that starts with a large video clip at the top. Below it will be several smaller video thumbnails related to what you searched for. 

Next to or under these videos, there will be a short paragraph of text created by AI to give you a quick answer or summary about your search topic.

For example, if you search for “things to do in Paris,” the AI might show you a big video clip about Paris attractions, a row of other related videos, and a short AI-written blurb giving highlights like “Visit the Eiffel Tower and try French pastries.” 

If you want to watch a full video, you just need to tap on the big video at the top of the carousel.

Right now, this feature is only available on the YouTube app for iOS and Android, and it only works for videos in English. 

YouTube says it’s letting a randomly chosen group of Premium subscribers in the US test the feature until July 30. After that date, it’s not clear if or when it will roll out more widely.

In addition, YouTube is expanding another AI tool it started testing last year, a conversational feature that lets you ask questions about a video you’re watching, like “What’s the recipe?” or “Where was this filmed?” 

Originally, only Premium users could try it, but now YouTube is giving access to some non-Premium users in the US, too.

What do you think about this new feature? Will you be using it? Tell us below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.