Google is experimenting with two artificial intelligence (AI) systems on its YouTube platform. The first experiment involves an AI that organizes large comment sections in long-form videos into themes, allowing content creators to manage and organize comments by topic. The second experiment introduces a generative AI chatbot that interacts with viewers while they watch videos, providing answers to questions, recommendations for related content, and increased interactivity. These experiments are currently running on select videos and will be available to YouTube Premium subscribers participating in the experimental features program.

Google is conducting experiments with two artificial intelligence (AI) systems on its YouTube video-sharing platform to enhance the experience for both creators and viewers.


The first experiment focuses on improving the organization of comment sections in long-form videos. This AI system helps content creators manage large comment sections by grouping comments into easily digestible themes. Creators can highlight specific comments, organize them by topic, and even remove comments related to a particular theme. The feature is currently in testing and available on a small number of English videos with substantial comment sections. YouTube Premium subscribers can opt in to access this experimental feature.


The second experiment introduces a generative AI chatbot designed to interact with viewers while they watch videos. This chatbot, similar to Google's Bard and OpenAI's ChatGPT, aims to provide answers to viewers' questions about the video content, offer recommendations for related content, and enhance interactivity without interrupting the video playback. In some cases, the chatbot can create quizzes for users watching educational or academic videos. The feature is currently available to a small number of users on select videos and will expand to Premium subscribers in the U.S. on the Android platform in the coming weeks.


It's important to note that these features are experimental, and there is no guarantee of wide-scale implementation. YouTube acknowledges that not all experiments may be successful and provides a standard disclaimer about the experimental nature of these features.


While the tools may be welcomed by many YouTube users, the challenge lies in ensuring that AI systems can interact with the public and video content at scale without generating unpredictable or unwanted outputs. YouTube will need to navigate this territory carefully as it rolls out these AI-driven features.


(TRISTAN GREENE, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)