YouTube has begun testing a new feature that adds AI-generated summaries to select search results. The test is available to a limited number of YouTube Premium users in the United States who opt in through YouTube’s experimental features page.
The overviews are designed to provide viewers with a concise summary of a topic. According to Google, the summaries are generated using its own large language models and are not pulled from YouTube videos or creator content. Instead, they compile information from web sources to provide a general background on the search query.
Feature details
Overviews appear at the top of some YouTube search results pages. They are only visible on mobile devices and are currently limited to select English-language queries. Users who see the overview can expand or collapse the section.
Google stated that the summaries are not intended to summarize specific videos and are not influenced by individual video metadata, including titles or descriptions. Video rankings and recommendations remain unchanged.
Because the summaries are based on general web content and not on YouTube videos, creators’ content is not being directly summarized or used. However, the addition of overviews could shift how some viewers interact with the platform.
Users may use the AI summary to get quick information instead of clicking into a video. This could affect click-through rates for some educational or explainer content, particularly on widely searched topics.
Limited rollout
YouTube has not announced a timeline for a broader rollout or whether it plans to expand availability beyond Premium users in the United States.
Google has introduced similar AI-powered summaries across other services, including Search. This latest test appears to be part of its broader integration of generative AI into its platforms.