YouTube released custom feeds on Wednesday, saying it will let users build personalized video recommendations using AI. It is the company's first major update to its recommendation system since 2021.
YouTube reported no specific benchmark score, but the feature leverages Google's Gemini AI model to create feeds based on user descriptions. That compares with previous recommendation systems that relied on static algorithms.
Custom feeds are built on Gemini AI and target users who want to explore specific topics or interests. Availability begins next month, initially for YouTube users on web and mobile platforms.
"One of the amazing things about being on YouTube is that the world is always at your fingertips," said Emily Moxley, VP of Product Management for Viewer AI. The new feeds will not replace YouTube's main feed, which features all your recommendations.
The announcement follows similar moves by other social networks that have created tools allowing users to build their own algorithms. YouTube believes custom feeds will help users better explore the vast number of videos now hosted on its platform.
YouTube did not say how the custom feeds will be prioritized within the app, and the open question remains about how the AI will handle content moderation. The company said support for creating multiple custom feeds will roll out across YouTube on web and mobile, starting next month.
Source: techcrunch
