YouTube is revamping search with an AI-powered “Ask YouTube” feature that can handle follow-up questions and draw from both Shorts and long-form videos. The company is also bringing Gemini Omni to Shorts Remix and YouTube Create, while expanding a likeness-det
For years, YouTube search has felt like a tool for finding. Now, the company wants it to feel like a conversation.
Google is infusing YouTube’s search bar with AI features. starting with a new option called “Ask YouTube.” The promise is a more sophisticated search experience. where people can ask “more complex search queries.” In YouTube’s example. a user might ask for tips on how to teach a kid to ride a bike. or try to find creator reviews of cozy games to play before bedtime. The company also says users can ask follow-up questions to keep refining what they’re looking for.
YouTube will compile both Shorts and long-form videos and generate a response. For now, access is limited: Premium subscribers in the U.S. on desktop can start using the feature now through YouTube’s optional Premium offerings to test new tools.
The same push toward AI-driven video tools is extending beyond search. YouTube also announced it is adding Gemini Omni. Google’s new AI video model. to YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app. In a press release. YouTube said: “Remixing with Omni delivers a fresh way for users to create and build on each other’s imagination.” It added that the model “better understands user intent creating more consistent and meaningful storytelling while also handling complex video and audio adjustments behind the scenes.”.
Not every platform has embraced this kind of AI-first creative push. Meta and OpenAI have seen mixed reception when rolling AI into Shorts-like experiences. and OpenAI even sunsetted its social app Sora. where users could post and share their AI-generated clips. YouTube’s rollouts. at least from the way the feature is being positioned. appear less like a front-and-center overhaul and more like another layer being added to what creators and viewers already do.
At the same time, YouTube is making changes aimed at protecting people from being misrepresented in AI-generated video. The company is expanding its likeness-detection tool to creators 18 and older. designed to help prevent creators from being deepfaked in other people’s AI content. If a creator sees themselves misrepresented in AI videos, they can request that the video be removed. Because the tool is only now expanding more broadly. it remains to be seen how effective it will be in practice.
In the span of a few announcements. YouTube is moving in two directions at once: making discovery and remixing more interactive with AI. while trying to put guardrails around identity. For viewers and creators. the test won’t be a promise—it will be whether the answers feel useful. whether remixing feels genuinely creative. and whether takedown requests actually stop the misuse in time.
YouTube Ask YouTube AI search Gemini Omni Shorts Remix YouTube Create conversational search deepfakes likeness detection Premium subscribers
So it’s like Google answers but with YouTube videos? Cool I guess.
I don’t trust “Ask YouTube” to get stuff right. Like what if it recommends the wrong video and you waste an hour. Seems like they’re just gonna push more ads and confuse everyone.
Wait “follow-up questions”?? That sounds like it’ll just start talking over you. Also Gemini Omni on Shorts Remix… so now we can’t even remix ourselves without an AI picking what we mean? I’m confused how this helps if the search results are still a mess.
Premium subscribers only at first, of course 🙄. I saw “likeness-det” or whatever and assumed it’s something about stealing creators’ faces? Then it mentioned Shorts Remix and YouTube Create and I’m like… is this gonna change permissions or whatever. Also OpenAI sunsetted Sora so maybe this won’t last either. Either way the search bar is gonna be AI chat and that’s not what I want when I’m just trying to find a video about bike riding.