YouTube Tests AI Overviews in Search Results to Connect Viewers with Products and Places

YouTube

YouTube is experimenting with AI Overviews in search results. For certain queries—like product research (“best noise cancelling headphones”) or local suggestions (“museums to visit in San Francisco”)—YouTube may now display a carousel of video clips that are most relevant to what viewers are looking for.

These clips are selected by AI to highlight the most helpful moments from videos tied to the search query.

The test is currently rolling out to a small group of YouTube Premium members in the U.S., limited to English-language queries. These users can share feedback by tapping the 3-dot menu and selecting either a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Why it matters: This update helps surface relevant content more efficiently, particularly for shopping decisions and exploring local areas—two categories where YouTube has been investing heavily. It reflects a broader trend of platforms using AI to streamline search and discovery.

On the shopping front, YouTube continues to expand its commerce efforts with new tools and formats. For local content, it's testing features like automatic location tags on Shorts to better highlight things to do, places to eat, and nearby attractions.