YouTube is testing channel QR codes that allow for sharing video content almost instantly

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, YouTube is once again at the forefront of innovation, testing two intriguing features that might change how we interact with the platform. Imagine jumping into a live chat with a quick summary of what’s been discussed or effortlessly sharing your favorite channels using a simple QR code.

That sounds handy, right? That’s exactly what YouTube is experimenting with, along with some other nifty additions to enhance user experience.

For starters, YouTube is experimenting with AI-generated live chat summaries. This feature is a godsend for those who’ve ever felt lost in a sea of messages during a livestream.

Using AI to summarize the chat’s highlights, newcomers can quickly catch up and dive into the conversation without missing a beat. However, it’s worth noting that this feature is currently limited to English and channels with super active chats.

To help you more quickly understand and participate in the exciting conversations that happen via YouTube live chat, we’re experimenting with AI-generated live chat summaries. If you’re in the experiment group, you’ll see a banner display at the top of the live chat when you join a live stream that’s accrued sufficient chat activity prior to you joining. 

YouTube

Then there’s the introduction of channel QR codes on YouTube, a straightforward yet effective way for creators to share their content widely.

Whether online or offline, QR codes can be easily scanned on YouTube, directing potential new followers straight to a creator’s channel. This simple tool could significantly lower the barrier to discovering new and exciting content.

To make it easier for creators to share their channels with others, we’re experimenting with channel QR codes. If you’re a creator in the experiment, you can share your channel QR code by navigating to the You tab on the bottom menu of the app > tapping the chip under your handle that says “Share your channel” > tapping “QR code” in the menu that pops up. Viewers can find and share your QR code by tapping the three-dot menu on your channel page > tapping Share > selecting the QR code 💕 The codes are scannable both online and offline. We’re testing this feature out with a small group of creators at first but we’ll let you know of our expansion plans in the future!

YouTube

But YouTube isn’t stopping there. The platform also tests user-generated effects for YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to add a personal touch to their short-form videos.

And for those who’ve ever wished for a more intuitive way to search for content, YouTube is exploring the integration of Google Lens into its search bar. This would enable users to search for videos by simply snapping a picture of an item.

We’re experimenting with the ability to search on YouTube via Google Lens 🔎 👀 If you’re in the experiment, you’ll see a Lens button on in the search bar. From there, tap the Lens button to search what you see and receive relevant YouTube content as your search results.

YouTube

While these features are currently in the testing phase and available to only a small group of users, the potential for a wider rollout is exciting.

YouTube’s commitment to innovation is clear, and these tests underscore the platform’s ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience, making the platform more interactive, accessible, and engaging for its billions of users worldwide.

It’s also worth mentioning that the company has been experimenting with horizontal video suggestions; frankly, it doesn’t look that bad.

So, what do you think? Would you be excited to use these features? YouTube’s experiments could shape how we interact with video content online, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s next.