The new chatbot provides answers to video-related questions, offers recommendations for related content, without affecting video playback.
Currently, a feature is available for a few individuals in a small group of videos through the YouChat app. The video platform confirmed that it will be launched in the coming weeks for YouTube Premium members in the United States using Android devices.
Eligible users can experience the chatbot by clicking on the new “Ask” button located at the bottom of selected videos and start asking questions about the video or choose to see suggestions.
The platform noted that its chatbot does not rely on Google’s cold chatbot, but uses advanced linguistic models based on information derived from both YouTube and the web to generate responses.
YouChat released an animated presentation explaining how the conversational AI feature works.
During platform development, an additional experimental feature is being added that uses artificial intelligence to summarize topics in long comments, making it easier to view and follow detailed discussions in the videos.
YouTube stated: “We hope this feature will help content creators quickly understand what subscribers are thinking,” and the platform is currently testing this feature on a few English language videos with many comments, where YouTube Premium members can also try out this feature.
The platform explained: “In the coming weeks and months, we will learn more about how viewers are using these new features and will continue to provide updates that make the platform more useful. We are committed to maintaining our long-term mission and responsibility while introducing these features.”
These features are being added to a set of other tools that utilize artificial intelligence, which YouTube announced in September during the Made on YouTube event for content creators.
Other tools include the YouTube Create app, featuring automation for editing, effects, usage, and transitions, as well as the Dream Screen feature that uses AI to create video backgrounds and images to provide new dynamic scenes for YouTube Shorts videos, and the Aloud dubbing tool that utilizes AI.
