YouTube is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to enhance the search experience for users, but the latest AI-powered search feature is currently limited to YouTube Premium subscribers in the United States. While the rollout is expanding within the US, there's no immediate word on when or if it will become available in other countries, including India.

The new AI-driven search enhancement is designed to help users discover content more efficiently. It works by displaying an AI-powered carousel of video clips and topic descriptions at the top of search results for specific types of queries. This carousel provides a quick snapshot of relevant videos, allowing users to jump directly to the content that interests them without having to scroll through an entire results page.

For example, if a user searches for "best beaches in Hawaii," the AI-powered carousel might showcase video clips of top snorkeling spots and volcanic beaches, accompanied by AI-generated descriptions. This feature is particularly useful for searches related to shopping, travel, or local activities.

This experimental feature is currently available on the YouTube mobile app for both iOS and Android. It supports English-language videos, but doesn't appear for every search query. YouTube Premium subscribers in the US can opt-in to try the feature by visiting the experiments page. The AI search functionality will be available until August 20, 2025, and YouTube may consider a wider rollout to all Premium users across the globe after that date.

YouTube's AI-powered search carousel is similar to Google's AI Overviews. It's part of YouTube's broader push into generative AI, aiming to make video discovery faster and more intuitive. YouTube is also expanding its conversational AI tool, which allows users to ask questions about a video, get recommendations, and quiz themselves on key concepts. This tool is now being tested with select non-Premium users in the US.

The introduction of AI-powered search on YouTube could change how users find and engage with videos. By providing AI-generated summaries and curated clips, users may be less inclined to watch full videos, which could impact watch time for content creators. However, the feature could also improve content discovery and help users find relevant videos more quickly.

While the AI-powered search feature is not yet available in India, YouTube has announced a separate AI-based age verification feature that will launch on August 13, 2025. This feature will use machine learning to estimate users' ages and provide a safer experience based on their age. It will analyze factors such as account history, watched video categories, and search activity to determine if a user is underage. If the system determines that a user may be underage, age-based restrictions will be applied automatically.