Tag: viewing

  • Revolutionize Your Viewing: YouTube Tests AI Chatbot for Personalized Home Feed Customization

    Revolutionize Your Viewing: YouTube Tests AI Chatbot for Personalized Home Feed Customization

    YouTube is in the process of testing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot aimed at enhancing your home feed to better align with your video preferences. This development seeks to address the limitations currently presented by the platform’s algorithm, allowing you a greater degree of control over your feed.

    Algorithm Limitations and the Role of AI

    Your YouTube home feed is largely shaped by the platform’s algorithm. This algorithm works by continuously monitoring your viewing habits, the content you have previously liked or disliked, and the YouTube channels you follow. Despite its effectiveness, this system has its flaws as it can lead to an over-saturated feed based on a fleeting interest.

    For instance, viewing a few Marvel-related videos may lead the algorithm to categorize you as a die-hard Marvel fan and subsequently fill your home feed with Marvel content. YouTube is acknowledging this limitation and is experimenting with an AI chatbot that allows you to specify the type of content you wish to view.

    Introducing Your Custom Feed

    YouTube is testing a new feature, “Your Custom Feed,” which allows you to customize your home feed. Users involved in the experiment will find this feature on their home page. This feature allows you to update your feed recommendations based on simple prompts. This innovation is intended to provide an easy means of exerting greater control over your suggested content.

    Accessing the AI chatbot is as simple as tapping “Your Custom Feed” next to the Home option on your YouTube main page. You can then enter a prompt detailing the type of videos you wish to see on your home feed. This change will reset your current YouTube home feed to better reflect your stated preference.

    AI and Custom Feed

    YouTube is not alone in utilizing AI to help users customize their feeds. Platforms are increasingly using AI chatbots or manual topic selection to tailor content to users’ preferences, providing more control over content than relying solely on algorithms.

    However, it is worth noting that as technology giants like Google begin to integrate AI tools into their products, they are likely to use the data shared with these chatbots to train their AI models. This data-sharing means users may inadvertently become a source for training AI systems.

    Respecting User Preferences

    While some users may appreciate the more personalized feed offered by AI technologies, others may prefer to browse un-curated content. It is hoped that should this feature become widely available, Google will allow users to opt-out, respecting the preferences of users who do not wish to have their viewing habits learned by AI.

    Other User-Controlled Features

    YouTube has been taking steps to give users more control over their feeds. For instance, there is the “Customize Your Feed” option that occasionally appears on the home feed, which asks users to select their preferred types of videos. YouTube also frequently asks if you like a particular post or video to determine if it should show you similar content in your feed.

    In addition, YouTube introduced an option to remove pop-ups such as “subscribe to the channel” or “watch another video” that appear at the end of a video. These innovations suggest that YouTube is committed to refining the user experience on its platform.

    Questions & Answers

    What is YouTube doing to improve the user experience?
    YouTube is experimenting with an AI chatbot that allows users to customize their home feed. This gives users more control over their feed, addressing limitations of the platform’s algorithm.

    How can users interact with the AI chatbot?
    Users can interact with the chatbot by tapping the “Your Custom Feed” feature found on their home page. They can then enter a prompt detailing the type of videos they wish to see on their home feed.

    What if users do not wish to have AI learn their viewing habits?
    YouTube hopes to respect the preferences of all users. Should the AI feature become widely available, it is anticipated that users who do not wish to have AI learn their viewing habits will have the option to disable the feature.

  • Hulu launches new rewards system for select viewers

    Hulu launches new rewards system for select viewers

    After increasing the prices of its streaming services, Hulu announced a new rewards system for those who love to binge. A new ad system is now available for Hulu viewers who like to watch TV shows back-to-back, the company announced.

    The new ad experience has been specially designed for binge-watchers, so here is how it will work. If you plan to watch an entire season of your favorite show in one sitting or at least several episodes, you will certainly qualify for Hulu’s new rewards system.

    Let’s say you’re watching a show and you reach the third episode, then you’ll be able to choose a reward from Hulu, as the streaming service will let you choose from either an ad-free episode or a unique offer from its brand partners.

    Speaking of brand partners, Hulu announced that for the time being, it will give binge-watchers offers from the following brands: Kellog’s, Maker’s Mark and Georgia-Pacific. Of course, Hulu may add more brands in the future, but for now, you’re limited to these three. Or, you can always choose the ad-free episode and don’t bother with any special offers from these advertisers.

  • Optus offers bonus data for viewing ads

    Optus offers bonus data for viewing ads

    Australia’s second largest mobile operator Optus has introduced a new ad-supported offer allowing customers to be allocated extra data or credit by agreeing to have marketing messages displayed on their device’s lock screen.

    The Singtel subsidiary has announced Optus Xtra, which gives prepaid customers the option to earn 1GB of bonus data on eligible monthly plans or $2 of extra credit on daily plans every 28 days.

    Optus has developed the service in partnership with New Zealand based mobile advertising start-up Postr. The company has developed a technical platform for lock screen advertising and has similar operator partnerships in New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

    As well as static ads, the platform can give customers the option of viewing a video version of the ad or visiting an advertiser’s website. Users can nominate interests across eight categories – beauty, employment, fashion, government and politics, health, money, technology and travel.

    Singtel’s digital marketing subsidiary Amobee manages advertising for the service.

    “Optus Xtra is a mobile advertising solution that puts mobile first and allows advertisers to reach audiences who have opted-in to see ads that are highly relevant to their interests and preferences,” Amobee managing director for Australia and New Zealand Liam Walsh said.

    “The Optus Xtra lock screen format lets brand advertisers target highly engaged audiences, where they are guaranteed a full screen creative canvas and 100% viewability.”