YouTube tests AI Overviews in search results
YouTube is bringing AI-powered summaries to search results on the video platform.
YouTube is testing AI overviews for search results
Following Google’s rollout of AI Overviews in its main search engine, the tech giant is now experimenting with its AI-powered summaries for video search results on YouTube. Google’s AI Overviews summarize search results to simply deliver the information it believes you’re looking for, differing from YouTube which will feature a carousel of video search results.
How will it work?
Powered by AI, the new feature will pull highlights from videos to generate short and direct answers to search queries. Instead of clicking through to a full video, users will be able to view clips that aim to provide the “most helpful” response.
YouTube says the feature will mostly appear in searches about product queries and things to do in locations- providing two examples such as the “best noise cancelling headphones” and “museums to visit in San Francisco”.
While this could improve user experience, it raises some important questions for creators. If viewers get what they need from a small clip, they might not watch a full video, potentially impacting views and ad revenue. Google’s AI Overviews on web search has already diverted traffic away from original search results, and creators will be hoping for a different result here.
It’s also unclear how YouTube’s AI will prioritize which videos or clips get featured. Maybe we will eventually see new optimization strategies for creators, similar to SEO, but aimed towards AI selection in order to be spotlighted in this feature.
When will it roll out?
Right now, YouTube is testing the feature with a small group of YouTube Premium subscribers across English search queries. These users can give feedback by giving a thumbs up or down on the AI results.
There’s no official timeline for a wider rollout. YouTube hasn’t shared details about how long the pilot will last, whether the feature will expand beyond Premium users, or if it will become a permanent part of the platform.
As YouTube experiments with AI-driven search tools, understanding how these changes could affect content discovery and audience engagement will be crucial. They could help you adapt your content strategies and stay ahead of the curve.
Distribute your tracks to YouTube Music, Shorts and all major platforms for free with RouteNote.