After testing its new smart search on the web and smart TVs, YouTube is officially bringing the chat style search feature right to your mobile device. First revealed during an earlier Google event, this new tool changes how you find videos on the platform. Instead of typing basic keywords, you can now talk to the app and ask complex questions to find the most relevant clips.
Ask YouTube lets you search using natural conversational questions
When you open the mobile app, you will spot a new Ask button sitting in the search bar. Tapping this opens a chat interface where you can type out full questions. For instance, you could ask how to make a Halloween costume or ask for opinions on a specific topic. The app then provides text answers and video clips that match your prompt. Videos even start playing at the timestamp that directly answers your question.
This update marks a big shift in how users interact with the app. We already knew that the platform was replacing basic search with AI powered conversations for a limited test group, and now that vision is expanding to all mobile users in the US. If the first results do not quite hit the mark, you can type a follow up question to refine your search. The conversational format makes finding specific details much easier than digging through endless search pages.
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The feature is currently available to users in the United States searching in English. The company also plans to expand this AI functionality to the main watch page soon. This future update will let you ask questions about the video you are actively watching, including live streams and Shorts, to get instant context as the video plays.
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