YouTube Introduces AI-Powered Tools to Enhance Search and Video Discovery Experience
YouTube has unveiled a broad set of updates to its search and filtering tools, as part of its ongoing efforts to simplify content discovery and enhance user experience, amid the rapid growth of Shorts alongside traditional long-form videos.
The platform announced a redesigned search filtering system that introduces a dedicated category for Shorts, allowing users to view short-form videos separately from other search results. The move gives users greater control over the type of content displayed while browsing and searching on the platform.
The updates also include more precise video duration classifications. YouTube has narrowed the definition of short videos to clips under three minutes, down from the previous four-minute threshold, and introduced a new “medium-length” category covering videos ranging from three to twenty minutes, offering clearer distinctions between content formats.
In parallel, YouTube has adjusted how search results are ranked by replacing the traditional “view count” metric with a new filter labeled “Popularity.” This filter relies on advanced algorithms that assess real engagement levels and actual watch time, rather than clicks alone, in an effort to surface higher-quality and more relevant content.
The platform has also renamed the “Sort by” option to “Priority,” while removing several legacy filters that are no longer widely used. Among those removed are the “Rating” filter and the option to search for videos uploaded within the past hour. Instead, YouTube is placing greater emphasis on relevance and content published within the same day.
Channel pages have also received updates, with new filters enabling subscribers to easily access members-only content and clearly separate it from publicly available videos, improving navigation and the experience of following exclusive material.
Reflecting YouTube’s broader push into advanced technologies, the platform has integrated generative artificial intelligence tools into select customization features. These tools allow creators and users to apply advanced visual effects when designing video thumbnails and playlists.
YouTube confirmed that the updates will be rolled out gradually across mobile applications and the web version over the coming weeks, noting that the changes represent one of the most significant overhauls of its content classification and search systems in recent years.