Table of Contents
- Why Is YouTube's Groundbreaking AI Carousel Feature Causing Massive Controversy Among Creators?
- What Is YouTube's AI Search Carousel
- How to Access This Game-Changing Feature
- What Makes This Search Different
- The Conversational AI Expansion
- Impact on Content Creators and Revenue
- Alternative AI Search Options
- Managing and Controlling AI Features
Why Is YouTube's Groundbreaking AI Carousel Feature Causing Massive Controversy Among Creators?
YouTube just launched something that changes how I search for videos. Google rolled out an AI-powered search feature that creates smart carousels of video results. This isn't just another update - it's a complete shift in how we discover content on the platform.
What Is YouTube's AI Search Carousel
The AI search carousel works like Google's AI Overviews but for YouTube videos. When I search for topics about shopping, travel, or local activities, YouTube shows me a curated selection of video clips with AI-generated descriptions. Think of it as having a personal assistant who watches dozens of videos and picks the best parts for my specific question.
The feature uses large language models and generative AI to identify key topics, create short video clips, and provide relevant information that directs me to specific segments of YouTube videos. For example, when I search "best beaches in Hawaii," I get a carousel highlighting clips about snorkel spots and volcanic beaches, complete with descriptions to help plan my vacation.
How to Access This Game-Changing Feature
Right now, this feature is exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers in the United States. I can access it through the YouTube mobile app on both iOS and Android devices, but only for English-language videos.
Here's how I enable it:
- Open the YouTube mobile app
- Tap my profile icon at the bottom right
- Select the Settings cog at the top right
- Scroll to "Try experimental new features"
- Tap "Try it out" under "AI-powered search results carousel"
- Restart the YouTube app if needed
The experimental feature runs until July 30, 2025, giving YouTube time to gather user feedback and refine the experience.
What Makes This Search Different
Unlike traditional YouTube search results, the AI carousel presents information in a completely new way. I see a large video clip at the top, followed by smaller thumbnails of related videos below. Each clip comes with an AI-generated title and description that explains how it matches my search query.
The carousel appears most frequently for searches related to:
- Shopping recommendations and product reviews
- Travel destinations and activities
- Local attractions and things to do in specific places
However, the feature doesn't appear for every search. Sometimes I can enter the same query multiple times, and the AI carousel only shows up once. This inconsistency reflects the experimental nature of the feature.
The Conversational AI Expansion
YouTube is also expanding its conversational AI tool beyond Premium users. This feature, originally launched in late 2023 for Premium subscribers, now reaches select non-Premium users in the United States.
The conversational AI allows me to:
- Ask questions about videos I'm watching
- Get content recommendations and summaries
- Quiz myself on key concepts in educational videos
- Receive real-time answers from an AI assistant
To use this feature, I simply look for the "Ask" button below any video and start asking questions. The AI can summarize content, suggest related videos, or answer specific queries about what I'm watching.
Impact on Content Creators and Revenue
This development raises significant concerns for YouTube creators. The AI carousel might reduce individual video engagement since users can get information directly from the AI-generated summaries without clicking through to full videos. This mirrors the challenges news publishers face with Google's AI Overviews, which have already affected click-through rates and referral traffic.
Content creators worry about:
- Decreased video views and engagement metrics
- Reduced ad revenue from fewer full video watches
- Less direct interaction with their audience
- Potential impact on channel growth and monetization
However, some experts argue the feature could attract new viewers by providing engaging previews that encourage users to explore full videos when they find the content compelling.
Alternative AI Search Options
If I don't have access to YouTube's native AI search, I can use external AI tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, or other AI assistants to enhance my YouTube search experience. These tools won't integrate directly with YouTube, but I can create detailed queries and limit results to YouTube content through specific prompts.
Gemini works particularly well since Google owns both platforms, offering better integration with YouTube's ecosystem.
Managing and Controlling AI Features
YouTube provides options to control these AI features. I can disable the AI search carousel by returning to the experimental features section in settings and toggling it off. Once the feature officially launches after July 30, YouTube will likely implement permanent controls similar to Google's AI Overviews settings.
This gives me flexibility to use AI enhancements when helpful while maintaining the traditional search experience when preferred.