YouTube Expands AI Testing too Android Users with New ‘Ask‘ Feature
Breaking: YouTube is now allowing Android users to join a test of a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that lets them ask questions about video content. The feature, initially launched earlier this year, is expanding its reach to a wider audience on the Android platform, building on YouTube’s ongoing investment in AI-powered tools.
YouTube has been actively experimenting with AI for some time. Last year, the platform tested a “jump ahead” feature for Premium subscribers, aiming to direct them to the most engaging parts of a video. Prior to that, in 2023, YouTube introduced the “Ask about video” feature, wich has now been fully rolled out. Additionally, a summer test brought a Google AI Overviews-inspired “Highlight” feature to Premium users, providing AI-generated summaries and clips when searching for videos.
The new “Ask” feature allows users to pose questions about a video’s content, receiving AI-generated answers based on the video’s transcript. This aims to help viewers quickly find specific facts within longer videos, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Users can access the feature by tapping the “Ask” button below the video player.
These developments follow earlier tests, including one that provided AI-generated overviews when searching for videos, categorized as “Highlights” with AI-generated titles, descriptions, and clips. These overviews were scrollable and allowed users to jump directly to relevant video segments.
