All the YouTube news from today’s Google I/O
Conversational search and Gemini Omni AI tools help you find videos and remix Shorts with ease.
May 19, 2026 [[read-time]] minute read
Today we announced new ways you can search and create on YouTube.
We are reimagining how users can search and discover their favorite content with our new conversational search experience, Ask YouTube.
With Ask YouTube, you can ask more complex search queries, such as wanting tips on how to teach your kid to ride a bike, or finding creator reviews of cozy games to play before bedtime. You can even ask follow-up questions to continue refining what you’re looking for.
Ask YouTube will compile the most relevant videos across all of YouTube’s catalogue — including long-form videos and Shorts — and provide an interactive, structured response.
Ask YouTube is currently available for Premium members aged 18 and up in the U.S. through youtube.com/new, and we plan to roll this out broadly to all YouTube users soon.
You can now expand your creativity with Gemini Omni in YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app.
Gemini Omni is an exciting upgrade that makes it easy to step into the trends and conversations on YouTube. Remix an eligible Short by adding your own prompts and images to create an entirely new vision, like changing the scene into a 90’s vibe or inserting yourself alongside your favorite creator, all while the context of the original video stays the same.
Remixing with Omni delivers a fresh way for users to create and build on each other's imagination. The model better understands user intent creating more consistent and meaningful storytelling while also handling complex video and audio adjustments behind the scenes. This means you can spend less time worrying about technical skills and more time focusing on your ideas.
YouTube Shorts remixed through Omni have digital watermarks, identifying metadata, and link back to the original video. Creators are always in control of their content and have the flexibility to opt-out of visual remix in Shorts at any time. Likeness detection, our industry-first tool that helps creators detect and manage their likeness, is also now expanding to all creators 18 and older.
Remixing with Omni is rolling out today at no cost in YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app, and coming soon to AI Playground for even more ways to create.