YouTube will enable users to create their own viewing algorithms. Today, the company is launching a new feature called “Custom Feeds,” which allows users to describe in their own words which videos they want to see in recommendations. YouTube believes User Sources will help people better navigate the vast amount of video content posted on the platform.
Image source: YouTube
To create a Custom Feed, simply enter a description of your desired content in the special field on YouTube. The feature is powered by text queries, using Google’s Gemini AI model to generate feeds. Completed selections are pinned to a separate tab at the top of the YouTube home page.
Because the feeds are created using artificial intelligence, requests can be very detailed: users can describe in detail the principles for selecting content, indicate what should be included and excluded from the feed, and identify priority topics. The new feed will not replace the main YouTube recommendations feed. After opening the app, the user can go to the feed that best suits his current interests.
“One of the great things about YouTube is that you can access the world’s content at any time. — said Emily Moxley, Vice President of Product Management at YouTube. — With more than 20 billion videos in YouTube’s library, you can find a treasure trove of videos on a variety of topics with just one search. “
The company said that starting next month, the ability to create multiple custom feeds will be available on YouTube – both on the web and in the mobile app. This innovation continues a trend outlined by many other social networks: they are creating tools that allow users to actually create algorithms themselves, describing what the feed wants and how to present the information.
Decentralized social network Bluesky started promoting the idea a few years ago in an attempt to differentiate itself from competitors. This year, the platform launched Attie, an artificial intelligence tool that streamlines the feed creation process. Other services have launched similar AI-based features, including Threads, Instagram✴X and Spotify.
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