Feature expands to mobile devices

The "Ask YouTube" feature, introduced in May during the Google I/O 2026 conference, is now available on smartphones through the YouTube mobile app. It had previously been released on the Web and compatible TVs.

Limited to U.S. users for now

Despite its availability on mobile, the feature remains exclusive to the United States, as stated in YouTube's official blog. In the U.S., it is only accessible to a limited number of users searching in English, with a gradual rollout expected.

Not available for children or on YouTube Kids

The feature is not accessible on supervised child accounts or the YouTube Kids app. Users can ask questions in natural language, and the system responds with text, videos, Shorts, and clips that begin at the relevant point. Follow-up questions and voice searches are also supported.

Data collection and privacy

YouTube collects user questions to enhance its services. Human reviewers may review some interactions after they are disconnected from a Google account. These interactions are stored for up to three years but will not be used for advertising targeting during the test phase. Users can delete their history from the My Activity page.

Future integration during video playback

YouTube plans to allow users to use "Ask YouTube" directly from the viewing page while watching short videos or live streams. This feature has been available on regular videos since last year and was added to TVs earlier this year. It now needs to provide information without interrupting playback.

No timeline for European rollout

YouTube has not announced a schedule for the feature's release in Europe and has not explained the exclusion. The European regulatory environment, including the AI Act and the Digital Markets Act, may influence this delay. The tool would also need to support searches in French to be available in France, as it currently only works with English searches.