Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel.
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Being able to just put a vague statement into Google and have it surface exactly what you're looking for is technology that's easy to appreciate. The same applies to Google's implementation of Ask YouTube, which works in the same way on the brand's popular video streaming platform. While it's been a part of the desktop experience for some months now, it's now getting a wider rollout, so you'll be able to use the feature on mobile devices as well.
A new way to find what you're looking for
You no longer need exact keywords to find the answer you're looking for when searching the internet. It's evolved leaps and bounds from its inception, providing a pretty seamless experience that we can all appreciate.
That technology is a vital part of why the internet is so powerful now. You can search for some vague idea or subject you only partially remember, and it can surface excellent sources of data that can be extremely impactful.
Unfortunately, this kind of search isn't available in all the apps and services we use. But that's why it's so important that Google introduced it on YouTube. You no longer have to struggle to find that one obscure clip you watched ten years ago.
You can use the Ask YouTube feature, and it will do all the work for you. It's not always going to be 100% accurate, but at least there's a different kind of search option. Desktop users have had access to this feature for some time, and it's now available on mobile devices.
If you've never tried it or noticed it, type a phrase or question into the YouTube search bar, and it will start looking for content that best matches what you entered. It's convenient. If what pops up isn't what you're looking for, you can further refine it by asking some follow-up questions or adding some input.
The good part is that it's all conversational, so there isn't a stiff format you have to follow. And since this uses AI, it won't be a perfect experience every time. Some of the times I've used it, it gets it right; other times, it's way off the mark. Naturally, this will improve over time.
Going in the right direction?
In my opinion, this is a welcome and useful feature. I won't always remember the exact keywords needed to surface a video I watched ages ago, and this could be an excellent tool to make those searches faster.
Naturally, adding more to YouTube is going to draw some pushback from some people, along with Google's insistence on adding more AI to the platform. Luckily, this addition is quite minor when it comes to the overall interaction.
It's seamlessly built into the search bar, and you have to activate it in order to see the results. The good thing is that if Google finds that it isn't working, it can always pull it. It's reworked things across a number of its products, so this could happen.
If you're on mobile and use YouTube, try it. Many people probably don't even know this feature exists.