Summary:
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YouTube expands Gemini-powered Ask feature to smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices for interactive viewing.
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AI assistant allows users to ask questions during video playback, providing answers without interrupting content.
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Feature currently being tested with select users over 18 in multiple languages, with plans for wider rollout.
YouTube is bringing its Gemini-powered Ask feature to smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices, letting viewers interact with an AI assistant while watching videos on the big screen.
The feature, which has been available on mobile and desktop since 2024, is now being tested with a small group of TV users. When available, an Ask button appears below the video player. Selecting it opens a panel with suggested prompts, or viewers can use their remote’s microphone to ask questions out loud.
Google listed sample use cases including asking what ingredients are being used in a cooking video or what the story behind a song’s lyrics is.
The AI processes the question and displays an answer on screen without interrupting playback.
On mobile, the Ask button typically appears between the Share and Download buttons below the video. On TV, it functions the same way but is optimized for the remote control. Users can select a suggested prompt or press the microphone button to speak their question directly.
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The tool can summarize a video’s content, break tutorials into step-by-step instructions, highlight key takeaways and answer specific questions about what’s being discussed on screen.
Testing is currently limited to a select group of users over 18. The feature supports English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean. YouTube has not announced a timeline for a wider rollout but said it will provide updates as the experiment expands.
The feature is available across Google TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, gaming consoles and streaming boxes.
YouTube now accounts for a significant share of total television viewing time in the U.S. As more viewers watch on their TVs rather than phones or laptops, the platform is adapting its AI tools for the living room experience.
Other platforms are making similar moves. Amazon rolled out Alexa+ on Fire TV devices with conversational recommendations, and Roku has enhanced its voice assistant to handle open-ended questions about content.
YouTube is also testing other AI-driven features including a comments summarizer and an AI search results carousel. However, not all of the platform’s AI moves have been welcomed.
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YouTube has also announced longer, unskippable ads for TV viewers, which has drawn criticism from users.
