Ask is YouTube's built-in AI button that answers questions about the video you're watching, summarises it or suggests related videos, without leaving the page. Tap Ask below a video on your phone or computer, then pick a suggested prompt or type your own question. It only appears on some videos, for signed-in users aged 13 or over.
If you've noticed an Ask button under a video, this is it. It's YouTube's own AI assistant, built with Google's Gemini models, and it's designed for one job: helping you get more out of the video in front of you.
What you can do with YouTube Ask
- Find out what a video covers before you commit twenty minutes to it.
- Ask a follow-up question about something the speaker said.
- Use a suggested prompt such as 'recommend related content' to find more on the same topic.
- On a TV or console, ask out loud using your remote's microphone, if your device supports voice input.
Think of it as a study buddy sitting next to the video. It's handy for long lectures, product reviews and how-to videos where you want one detail without scrubbing through the whole thing.
How to use Ask on YouTube
| Device | Steps |
|---|---|
| Phone, tablet or computer | Open a video, tap or click Ask below it, then choose a suggested prompt or type your question |
| Smart TV or games console | Press up or down on your remote to show the video details, select Ask, then pick a prompt or use voice input |
Why you can't see the Ask button
- It only appears on select videos. YouTube doesn't offer it on everything, so try a longer, talk-based video.
- You're not signed in. It's only for signed-in users.
- Age. You need to meet the minimum age, which is 13 or the age that applies in your country.
- Supervised accounts and YouTube Kids. It isn't available for supervised kid accounts or in the YouTube Kids app.
- Language or country. It works in a long list of languages and regions, including the US, the UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Nigeria, but not everywhere.
- An old app. Update YouTube from your app store.
How accurate is it?
YouTube is upfront that the answers come from large language models drawing on YouTube and the web, that quality and accuracy may vary, and that it can produce inaccurate or even offensive information. It also says not to rely on the answers for medical, legal, financial or other professional advice. In other words, it's a quick way to find your way around a video, not a replacement for watching the bit that matters. If an answer sounds wrong, jump to that part of the video and check.
You can rate any answer with a thumbs up or thumbs down. A thumbs down also gives you an option to report a legal issue.
Privacy: what happens to your questions
This is the part most people never read, so here's the plain version of what YouTube says:
| Question | YouTube's answer |
|---|---|
| How long are my chats kept? | Conversations linked to your Google Account are deleted automatically after 45 days |
| Can people read them? | Yes, human reviewers may read conversations, after they've been disconnected from your account |
| How long are reviewed chats kept? | Reviewed conversations are kept separately for up to 3 years |
| Are my chats used for ads? | YouTube says no, and that it'll tell you if that changes |
So don't type anything private into it: no addresses, phone numbers or details you wouldn't want a stranger to read. YouTube says the same.
Shopping in Ask answers
Ask can show products the creator has tagged in the video. YouTube notes that answers may not include every tagged product, and that creators and YouTube may get a cut of purchases made after you tap a tagged product. That's worth knowing if Ask suddenly recommends a product: it's coming from the creator's tags, not a neutral review.
Good questions to ask
The suggested prompts are a decent start, but specific questions get better answers. These work well on long videos:
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
- What are the main steps in this tutorial?
- Does this video explain how to do it on a phone?
- What did the speaker say about the downsides?
- Which part of the video covers the setup?
- Recommend videos that go deeper on this topic.
Then check the answer against the video. The point is to find the right minute faster, not to skip watching it.
Ask vs Gemini
Both are built on Gemini, but YouTube says Ask is a separate feature with different answers and behaviour. Ask is about the video you're watching. YouTube's iPhone and iPad help also describes a separate Ask experience in search that answers broader questions and can show clips from relevant videos. Neither one is customer support: Ask won't put you in touch with YouTube's help team.
My verdict
Ask is useful for long videos when you want a quick summary or one specific answer, and it sits right under the video. Just remember the two catches: answers can be wrong, and your chats can be read by reviewers and kept for up to three years if they're reviewed. If you'd rather keep your viewing private, see how to sign out of YouTube. For more on AI labels across social platforms, here's why Facebook shows an AI info label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ask button on YouTube?
An AI tool that answers questions about the video you're watching, summarises it or suggests related videos, without leaving the page.
Why don't I see Ask on YouTube?
It only shows on select videos, for signed-in users aged 13 or over, in supported languages and countries, and not on supervised accounts or YouTube Kids.
Does YouTube keep my Ask conversations?
Conversations linked to your account are deleted after 45 days, but ones reviewed by humans are kept separately for up to 3 years.
Is YouTube Ask the same as Gemini?
No. Both use Gemini models, but YouTube says Ask is a separate feature focused on the video you're watching.
