YouTube bringing AI feature to connected TV app
YouTube bringing AI feature to connected TV app
The Ask feature was previously only found on YouTube’s mobile app, but now it’s coming to the big screen.
YouTube’s parent company, Google, hasn’t been afraid to embrace AI. Google’s Gemini is one of the more popular public-facing AI agents out there, and the company has been diligently increasing the amount of AI tools it uses on its platforms, as well. Its most recent efforts in that regard include the launch of the AI-driven Ask feature on the YouTube connected TV app.
Key Details:
- Big screen-bound: YouTube is launching its Ask feature on connected TV apps soon.
- Go deeper: The Ask button allows viewers to ask questions and have a conversation about a particular piece of content.
- Expanding usage: In 2025, Google announced that Gemini features were coming to Google TV devices.
In a blog post, YouTube revealed that it would be rolling out its Ask conversational AI tool on the streamer’s connected TV app in the coming months. No official date was given; YouTube simply informed readers that the update would be made available “soon.”
The Ask button will appear automatically in the YouTube app’s interface on a viewer’s TV screen. Clicking it will allow the user to ask questions about that video with their remote’s microphone, or choose from a pre-selected set of questions generated by AI. They can then dive deeper into the particular video they’re watching, learning more about its content and creator.
Audiences can also use the Ask button to recommend related content or choose from other suggested prompts. It’s a way to help YouTube viewers feel more connected to the videos they watch on the platform, including podcasts and music videos.
The Ask button was first rolled out on YouTube’s mobile app and was in a testing phase until 2025. Google fine-tuned the feature to the point that it felt it was ready to be placed on YouTube’s connected TV app, and now the launch is just around the corner.
Google has been determined in its rollout of AI features on its devices and platforms. Last year, the company launched Gemini on Google TV devices, allowing owners to converse with their device to ask questions about shows and movies, actors, studios, or anything else that could help them discover a new streaming favorite.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.