YouTube is launching a new AI-powered search feature that mirrors Google’s AI Overviews, aiming to improve how users discover content on the platform.
The update introduces an ‘AI-powered search results carousel’ when YouTube users search for shopping, travel, or local activities.
The carousel offers a collection of video thumbnails and an AI-generated summary highlighting the key topics related to the search. For example, someone searching for ‘best beaches in Hawaii’ might see curated clips of snorkelling locations, volcanic coastlines, and planning tips — all surfaced by the AI.
Currently, the feature is available only to YouTube Premium users in the US. However, the platform plans to expand its conversational AI tool — which provides deeper insights, suggestions, and video summaries — to non-Premium users in the US soon.
That tool was first launched in 2023 to help users better understand content while watching.
YouTube is doubling down on AI features to keep users engaged and make content discovery more intuitive, especially in categories involving planning and decision-making.
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Google is expanding its AI Overviews feature to YouTube, bringing algorithmically generated video highlights and search suggestions to the platform. Initially rolled out to a limited number of YouTube Premium users in the US, the experimental tool uses AI to identify and surface the most relevant clips.
The AI-generated results are currently focused on shopping and travel content, offering viewers a new way to discover videos and related topics without watching entire clips.
Google says the feature is designed to streamline content discovery, though it arrives with some scepticism following the rocky debut of AI Overviews in Google Search last year. That version, introduced in May 2024, was widely criticised for factual errors and bizarre “hallucinations” in responses.
Despite its troubled track record, Google is pushing ahead with AI integration across its platforms. The company’s blog post emphasised that the YouTube trial remains limited in scope for now, while promising future refinements.
Whether the move improves user experience or adds confusion remains to be seen, as critics question the reliability of AI-generated summaries on such a massive and diverse video platform.
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YouTube has introduced a new AI-powered tool that creates free background music for video creators, helping them avoid copyright issues. The feature, known as Music Assistant, was showcased on YouTube’s Creator Insider channel and is designed to match music to a video’s tone using simple text prompts.
Users can enter descriptions such as ‘uplifting and motivational music for a workout montage’, and the tool will generate several suitable tracks for review and download. Music Assistant is currently available within YouTube’s Creator Music beta section and is being rolled out gradually to those with access.
YouTube’s move follows broader industry trends, with companies like Stability AI and Meta also developing similar music-generating technologies.
The platform has already been experimenting with AI music through features like Dream Track and a music remixer for Shorts, allowing further creative flexibility for users.
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YouTube has taken action against AI-driven fake movie trailer channels, stripping them of their ability to monetize content. Following an investigation by Deadline, two of the most prominent channels, Screen Culture and KH Studio, have reportedly lost their ad revenue privileges.
With over two million subscribers and nearly two billion views combined, these channels created misleading trailers by splicing footage from existing films with AI-generated content.
Many unsuspecting viewers believed they were seeing genuine first looks at upcoming projects, such as Grand Theft Auto VI and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Hollywood studios have reportedly lobbied YouTube to maintain monetization for such channels, though the reasons remain unclear. However, YouTube’s policies explicitly state that content must be ‘significantly changed’ and not copied solely for generating views.
While KH Studio’s founder defended their work as ‘creative exploration,’ Screen Culture’s founder questioned, ‘what’s the harm?’ YouTube’s latest crackdown suggests it is taking a firmer stance on AI-generated misleading content.
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Rep. Jim Jordan, Chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee, has subpoenaed Alphabet, the parent company of Google, demanding documents that show whether YouTube removed content due to requests from the Biden administration.
Jordan has long argued that Big Tech companies, including Google, have collaborated with the US government to suppress conservative speech. He believes that these actions constitute unlawful censorship, with YouTube allegedly playing a role.
This subpoena comes after the Committee’s successful investigation into Meta, which led the company to admit that it had bowed to pressure from the Biden administration, adjusting its content moderation policies and promising to restore free speech on its platforms.
Jordan is now pushing Alphabet to follow Meta’s lead and provide transparency on its own content moderation practices.
Google has responded by stating that its content policies are enforced independently, asserting its commitment to free expression.
However, the company has yet to provide a detailed response to Jordan’s subpoena or the claims of governmental influence. Also, this ongoing investigation signals that the scrutiny of Big Tech’s role in content moderation is far from over.
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YouTube has launched a new $7.99 monthly subscription plan called ‘Premium Lite,’ offering an ad-free experience for most videos, excluding music.
The service is aimed at viewers who rarely watch music content and prefer an alternative to YouTube’s $13.99 Premium plan. By introducing this lower-cost option, YouTube hopes to attract users who already pay for other music streaming services.
The company previously tested Premium Lite in several countries, including Australia and Germany, with early results showing strong demand. Many first-time subscribers opted for the new plan, with some later upgrading to the full Premium service.
YouTube now has over 125 million paying subscribers, up from 100 million at the start of 2024, though this includes free trial users.
Advertising remains YouTube’s primary revenue source, generating $36 billion in 2024, but subscriptions are becoming increasingly important.
Alphabet has not disclosed exact figures for YouTube’s subscription revenue, but company executives have confirmed that paid memberships are contributing significantly to overall earnings.
The new plan is part of YouTube’s broader strategy to expand its subscription base while maintaining strong advertising revenue.
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Major social media companies, including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok, have urged Australia to reconsider its decision to exempt YouTube from a new law banning under-16s from social media platforms.
The legislation, passed in November, imposes strict age restrictions and threatens heavy fines for non-compliance. YouTube, however, is set to be excluded due to its educational value and parental supervision features.
Industry leaders argue that YouTube shares key features with other platforms, such as algorithmic content recommendations and social interaction tools, making its exemption inconsistent with the law’s intent.
Meta called for equal enforcement, while TikTok warned that excluding YouTube would create an ‘illogical, anticompetitive, and short-sighted’ regulation. Snapchat echoed these concerns, insisting that all platforms should be treated fairly.
Experts have pointed out that YouTube, like other platforms, can expose children to addictive and harmful content. The company has responded by strengthening content moderation and expanding its automated detection systems.
The debate highlights broader concerns over online safety and fair competition as Australia moves to enforce some of the world’s strictest social media regulations.
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YouTube is approaching its 20th anniversary, but many fundamental details about the platform remain unknown. While Google shares select statistics, key information, like the total number of videos or the full extent of user engagement, remains elusive. A team of researchers, led by Ethan Zuckerman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, devised a creative solution: they built a program that randomly generates video URLs, allowing them to sample YouTube’s vast catalogue in an unbiased way.
Their findings challenge common perceptions. YouTube is often associated with high-profile creators and viral content, but the reality is different. The majority of videos receive little to no engagement, with a median of just 41 views. Many uploads lack professional editing, and nearly 90% of videos have no likes at all. Additionally, English-language content, while dominant, makes up less than 30% of YouTube’s overall library.
The research also highlights YouTube’s critical role beyond entertainment. Millions of everyday users rely on it as a storage hub, a tool for local governance, and a platform for sharing niche content. Yet, Google keeps much of YouTube’s influence hidden, avoiding the scrutiny faced by other social media giants. As pressure mounts for greater transparency, experts argue that understanding YouTube’s full impact is essential for meaningful public debate and regulation.
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Google is reportedly preparing to launch YouTube Premium Lite, a cheaper alternative to its full subscription service, in several countries, including the US, Australia, Germany and Thailand. Bloomberg reports that the service will cater to users who want an ad-free experience for most videos but do not necessarily need access to YouTube Music.
YouTube previously tested a similar version of Premium Lite in parts of Europe in 2021, but the plan was discontinued in 2023. However, recent tests suggest that the updated version may include limited ads rather than a completely ad-free experience. Pricing remains unclear, but in Australia, a test version was listed at $8.99 AUD per month, significantly lower than the standard YouTube Premium price.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed that the company is working on a new subscription tier with ‘most videos ad-free’ and hopes to expand it with support from its partners. While no official launch date has been announced, the move could provide a middle ground for users seeking fewer interruptions without committing to the full YouTube Premium package.
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A Russian court has fined Google 3.8 million roubles (£32,600) for hosting YouTube videos that allegedly instructed Russian soldiers on how to surrender. The ruling is part of Moscow’s ongoing crackdown on content it deems illegal, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. Google has not yet responded to the decision.
Authorities in Russia have frequently ordered foreign tech companies to remove content they claim spreads misinformation. Critics argue that the government is deliberately slowing YouTube‘s download speeds to limit access to material critical of President Vladimir Putin. Moscow denies the accusation, blaming Google for failing to upgrade its infrastructure.
President Putin has previously accused Google of being used by Washington to serve political interests. The latest fine is one of many imposed on the company as part of Russia’s broader control over digital platforms.
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