Key Highlights:
- YouTube is testing its conversational AI on smart TVs and streaming devices.
- Viewers can ask questions without leaving or pausing the video.
- The feature supports voice queries and on-screen prompts.
- The move reflects YouTube’s growing dominance on TV screens.
YouTube has started expanding its experimental conversational AI tool to smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. The update brings interactive AI directly to the television screen, letting viewers ask questions about videos while they continue watching.
The rollout marks YouTube’s first major push to place conversational AI on the largest screen in the home. Until now, the feature was limited to mobile devices and the web.
How does the AI work on TV screens?
Eligible users will see an “Ask” button while watching videos on TV. Selecting it opens an AI assistant that suggests context-based questions. Viewers can also use their remote’s microphone to ask custom queries.
Questions can range from recipe ingredients in a cooking video to the meaning behind song lyrics. Answers appear instantly. The video keeps playing in the background.
According to YouTube’s support page, the feature currently supports English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean. It is limited to users aged 18 and above.
Why is YouTube pushing AI to the living room?
YouTube launched its conversational AI tool in 2024 to help users explore content more deeply. The TV expansion reflects changing viewing habits.
More people now watch YouTube on televisions than on phones or computers. A Nielsen report from April 2025 found that YouTube captured 12.4% of total TV viewing time in the U.S., ahead of platforms like Disney and Netflix.
How does YouTube compare with other AI-powered TV platforms?
YouTube is not alone in this race. Amazon has introduced Alexa+ on Fire TV devices. It enables natural conversations, scene searches, and actor lookups.
Roku has also upgraded its AI voice assistant. Users can now ask open-ended questions like how scary a movie is or what a show is about. Netflix is testing an AI-powered search experience that responds to conversational prompts.
What other AI features is YouTube rolling out?
YouTube has steadily added AI across its platform. Recent updates include automatic HD enhancement for lower-resolution videos, AI-powered comment summaries, and smarter search carousels.
The company is also testing AI tools for creators. These include the ability to generate Shorts using AI versions of their own likeness. Last week, YouTube launched a dedicated app for Apple Vision Pro, extending its reach into immersive viewing.
As YouTube continues expanding conversational AI, the television is quickly becoming its next major interface.
