YouTube is quietly testing a new feature that could reshape the way people find videos: AI Overviews.

This feature, still in its experimental phase, introduces a carousel of AI-selected video highlights directly in the search results. Instead of scrolling through entire video titles or watching full intros, users will see quick, curated clips pulled from relevant videos matching their query.

Why This Matters?

For content creators and brands, this experiment raises a familiar concern.

Just like Google’s AI Overviews on Search have been accused of diverting clicks away from websites, YouTube’s version could potentially impact video views. If the AI summarizes and displays the most useful parts upfront, will users still click through to watch the full content?

How It Works?

When a user types a specific type of query, YouTube’s AI scans its video database to:

  1. Identify clips it considers highly informative or relevant
  2. Display these snippets in a carousel format within search results

This means viewers might get what they’re looking for without ever pressing play on the full video.

Currently, the feature is focused on queries related to:

  1. Product research (e.g., best noise cancelling headphones)
  2. Travel and local guides (e.g., museums to visit in San Francisco)

Who’s Seeing It?

This isn’t available to everyone yet. Here’s who gets access for now:

  1. A small group of U.S.-based YouTube Premium members
  2. Only for some English-language search queries

What’s Next?

YouTube is actively gathering feedback through thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons. Based on this user input, the company will decide whether to tweak the feature, roll it out more broadly, or possibly even shelve it.

Did You Know?

Google’s introduction of AI Overviews in search has already sparked concern among publishers and SEO professionals. Now, with YouTube exploring a similar path, the question arises: Will AI boost discovery or overshadow original creators?