Today (May 19), during Google I/O 2026, CEO Sundar Pichai announced new features that will change how you search for videos on YouTube.
Ask YouTube is a new way to search for videos in the app, which Pichai said "entirely reimagines the experience." The AI feature lets you ask more complex and conversational search queries in the search bar.
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Plus, Gemini Omni is getting deeper integration in the YouTube Shorts Remix and YouTube Create tools. Here's what's new.
Google's example was looking for tips on teaching your kids how to ride a bike or finding reviews of cozy games to play before bed.
Ask YouTube will compile videos that best match the search, which includes both long-form videos and Shorts. Similar to AI overviews in Google Search, you will see an "interactive, structured" response. In this new view, Ask YouTube will jump you directly to the part of the video that relates to your query.
The potential impact on YouTube Creators seems like it could be pretty large, as they constantly battle the algorithm. My colleague Marcus Cooper expressed skepticism about the new feature.
"On the surface, Ask YouTube sounds like it could be helpful to the user. Whether it will help people find more varied creators than the algorithm — we'll see," Cooper said. "Do we need everything to be AI? Probably not."
Initially, the feature is only be available to YouTube Premium subscribers aged 18 and up in the United States, starting today. A broader release will roll out later, but Google did not provide a timeline.
Gemini in Shorts and Create
If you make and upload videos to YouTube, the new Gemini Omni tool is coming to Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app.
Remix allows you to take an "eligible Short" and add your own AI prompts and images to create a new vision, like adding a 90s filter or inserting yourself within the context of the original video. Gemini Omni is supposed to better understand "user intent" for more consistent storytelling while handling complex video and audio adjustments.
Remixed Shorts created via Omni will have digital watermarks, identifying metadata and will automatically link back to the original video, Google said. Creators will have the option to opt-out of the remix.
Remixing with Omni is rolling out today for free in YouTube Shorts Remix and the Create app. It will also come to AI Playground in the near future.
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