Bard’s integration with Google’s suite of services and platforms has been progressively expanding its utility. The latest upgrade enables Bard to analyze individual YouTube videos, extracting specific information like key points or recipe ingredients without necessitating playback. While this offers users a potentially invaluable tool, it raises concerns for content creators about the increasing capabilities of generative AI.
I decided to test Bard on a YouTube video I frequently consult for guidance on crafting an Espresso Martini, a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen. The results were impressive. With just a few prompts, Bard provided an accurate list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions, omitting the need to watch the video repeatedly.
However, a significant challenge arises: America’s Test Kitchen has already published the full recipe behind a paywall on its website. The YouTube video lacks the recipe in its description. By employing Bard to swiftly provide the recipe, I’ve bypassed the conventional process of pressing play, watching ads, and exploring recommended videos. While advantageous for the user, it potentially diminishes the revenue stream for the video’s publisher.
Bard’s ability to summarize key points and answer specific questions about ingredients is commendable. Presently, this feature exists as an opt-in Labs experience, requiring some effort to obtain the desired information. When I sought the full recipe from the video, Bard initially couldn’t generate it. However, asking for step-by-step instructions in a subsequent prompt yielded the complete recipe.
Despite the current friction in accessing this feature, envisioning a future where it seamlessly integrates into YouTube is plausible. At that juncture, a critical discussion arises about how Bard’s content scraping capability can benefit creators. Presently, the predominant beneficiary is Google.
While generative AI’s propensity to evolve is not novel, the industry, including Google, is yet to find a definitive answer to the implications for content creators. We’ve contacted Google for clarification on this matter and will update this article with their response.
Regardless of the evolving landscape, Google must grapple with the question of how Bard’s value proposition aligns with the interests of YouTube creators. The potential impact on content creation for its platform necessitates careful consideration.
As Bard takes on the role of your YouTube confidant, what hidden insights and information do you hope it will unveil from your most-watched videos? Share your expectations and let Bard navigate the depths of YouTube on your behalf.
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