YouTube Introduces AI Overview-Style "Video Carousel" in Search Results — Initially for Premium Members in the U.S., Instantly Suggesting "Videos You Want to Watch" with Generative AI

Table of Contents

1. Background and Announcement Context

2. Mechanism of the New "AI Video Carousel"

3. Eligibility and Usage of Early Access

4. Commonalities and Differences with Google Search "AI Overviews"

5. Conversational AI Expansion: Learning and Exploration via Chat

6. Impact on Creator Revenue Models

7. Reorganization of Ads, Affiliates, and EC Guidance

8. Copyright, Transparency, and AI Safety Guidelines

9. Potential Domestic Expansion and Impact on the Japanese Market

10. Future Roadmap and Recommendations for Users

11. Summary: What is the Video Search Experience in the Generative AI Era?
    
    

1. Background and Announcement Context

YouTube has been promoting a refresh of the search UX with the "Search Generative Experience (SGE)" since the end of 2023, utilizing Gemini-based models. The newly announced AI video carousel is the culmination of these efforts, aiming to complete "finding videos," "learning," and "shopping" on a single screen. The official blog explains that it "shortens search actions and supports deeper learning and discovery."blog.youtube

2. Mechanism of the New "AI Video Carousel"

• Generation Process: LLM analyzes the query→selects a group of related videos→extracts highlight sections of each video→generates a summary (about 50 characters) and thumbnail.

• UI: Horizontal scroll cards (up to 10). Tapping a card jumps to the relevant time of the corresponding video.

• Target Queries: Queries related to , , and like "buy iPhone 16 case" or "things to do in Kyoto." Planned expansion to How-to areas in the future.techcrunch.com

3. Eligibility and Usage of Early Access

• Eligibility: YouTube Premium members residing in the United States (English settings).

• Operation: Enter query in the search bar→automatically displays. If unnecessary, can revert to "Classic view."

• Provision Period: Feedback collection during the summer 2025 test phase, with consideration for general release from autumn onwards.

4. Commonalities and Differences with Google Search "AI Overviews"

While both share the aspect of "instant answers" in search, the YouTube version, being more directly linked to the viewing experience, exposes the structural issue of the video ad model where "no clicks mean zero revenue."en.wikipedia.org

5. Conversational AI Expansion: Learning and Exploration via Chat

Generative AI chat analyzes subtitles, audio, and comments of the video being watched,

• Key Point Summarization

• Related Video Recommendations

• Quiz Auto-Generation

• Music Information Presentation
  
  and more. While educational YouTubers welcome it as "improving learning efficiency," entertainment creators express concern that it "takes away viewer retention."blog.youtube

6. Impact on Creator Revenue Models

In the current model where ad revenue is generated per view, if questions are resolved within the carousel, it may not lead to viewing, thus reducing RPM (revenue per thousand views). YouTube analysts point out that based on statistics showing 14% of all searches are How-to related, the average views in the relevant segment could decrease by up to 18%. The Wall Street Journal reports that similar features have reduced traffic to news sites by 20-40%, raising concerns about a similar "viewing shortcut" phenomenon.wsj.com

7. Reorganization of Ads, Affiliates, and EC Guidance

Currently, creative displays within the carousel do not support ads, but Google has begun inserting ads in AI Overviews, and it is expected that a format allowing transition to a shopping tab via clicks within video previews will be introduced in the future. While official brand videos can achieve "zero-click purchases," competition among affiliates is inevitable.

8. Copyright, Transparency, and AI Safety Guidelines

There are concerns that AI's automatic clipping may "exceed the scope of citation." YouTube

• Disclosure of Internal Fair Use Judgment Criteria

• Providing On/Off Settings to Video Owners

• Credit Display of Generated Range
  
  will be introduced sequentially.

9. Potential Domestic Expansion and Impact on the Japanese Market

With a lower YouTube Premium penetration rate in Japan (estimated at 7%) compared to the US (15%), the timing of the release is crucial. Attention is focused on synergy with the "Short Videos x EC" route that is leading in the Japanese market and the application to "regional video carousels" targeting the recovery of travel demand.

10. Future Roadmap and Recommendations for Users

• Fall 2025: Expansion of target countries, addition of languages

• 2026: Integration of ad formats, support for voice search

• 2027: Standardization ofautomatic summary subtitles at the beginning of videosby generative AI

Users can contribute to improving the quality of AI features and the health of the video ecosystem by

1. Optimizing Search and Viewing History (deleting unnecessary history)

2. Understanding Carousel Hide Settings

3. Sending Feedback to Creators
   
   .

11. Summary: What is the Video Search Experience in the Generative AI Era?

The flow from search keywords→AI summary→direct to the optimal video presents a new UX replacing "endless scrolling." However, the main issue is how to resolve the trade-off between "ease" and "view count." Whether YouTube can demonstrate its "creator-first" commitment will be a touchstone for future operational design and transparency.

Reference Articles List

• TechCrunch “YouTube adds an AI Overviews-like search results carousel” (2025-06-26) techcrunch.com

• YouTube Official Blog “Two new ways YouTube is using AI to bring you more of what you love” (2025-06-26) blog.youtube

• Tom’s Guide “Say goodbye to endless scrolling — what you need to know about YouTube’s AI summaries” (2025-04-23) tomsguide.com

• The Wall Street Journal “News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google’s New AI Tools” (2025-06-24) wsj.com

• Wikipedia “AI Overviews” (last updated 2025-06-25) en.wikipedia.org