YouTube’s latest experiment brings its conversational AI tool to TVs

YouTube is stepping up the competition in conversational AI, now extending its innovative tool to smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. This experimental feature, which was previously confined to mobile devices and the web, now allows users to engage with content on the largest screen in their homes without interrupting their viewing experience. Eligible users can simply hit the 'Ask' button displayed on their TV screens to access the AI assistant. The tool provides suggested queries based on the video being watched, or viewers can utilize their remote’s microphone to ask any relevant questions. For example, users might inquire about the ingredients of a recipe featured in a cooking video or delve into the background of a song's lyrics, receiving real-time answers without needing to pause the video. Currently, this exciting feature is available to a select group of users aged 18 and over, supporting multiple languages including English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean. Originally launched in 2024 to enhance content exploration, the expansion to televisions coincides with a notable increase in YouTube viewership on TVs, with a Nielsen report revealing that YouTube accounted for 12.4% of overall television audience time as of April 2025, surpassing well-known platforms such as Disney and Netflix. Other tech giants are also making strides in conversational AI. Amazon has introduced Alexa+ on Fire TV devices, allowing users to have natural interactions and receive personalized content suggestions or seek specific scenes in films. Roku is also upgrading its AI voice assistant to handle complex inquiries about movies and shows, like “What’s this movie about?” or “How frightening is it?” Meanwhile, Netflix is testing a new AI-driven search experience. YouTube is also committed to improving the viewing experience with AI by launching features like automatic enhancement of lower-resolution videos to full HD. Additionally, the platform is rolling out various AI tools, including a comments summarizer to help viewers catch up on video discussions and an AI-driven carousel for search results. Earlier this year, the company announced that creators will soon be able to produce Shorts using AI-generated versions of themselves. Just last week, YouTube debuted an app for the Apple Vision Pro, enabling users to enjoy their content on a virtual screen that mimics a theater setting.