YouTube has begun testing a new conversational search feature powered by artificial intelligence, according to reports from May 2026. The feature allows users to ask questions in natural language and receive answers directly within the YouTube interface, similar to how ChatGPT responds to queries.
This development was first reported by tech news outlets on May 20, 2026, citing internal documents and user screenshots. The AI chatbot is designed to help users find videos more intuitively by understanding context and follow-up questions, rather than relying solely on keyword searches.
Google, which owns YouTube, has been integrating AI across its products, including its own Gemini AI model. The YouTube chatbot is expected to leverage similar technology to provide concise answers and video recommendations based on user intent.
As of May 21, 2026, the feature is in limited testing with a small group of users. Google has not announced a public rollout date. The move positions YouTube as a more interactive search platform, competing with other AI-powered search tools.
