New feature lets viewers create multiple tailored feeds using conversational prompts, moving beyond automatic watch-history-based suggestions. It expands last year's limited chatbot experiment and rolls out across US platforms this fall.
YouTube is rolling out a new feature that gives viewers more direct influence over their recommendations, allowing them to build separate, customized suggestion feeds rather than relying solely on a single algorithm-driven Home page shaped by watch history.
The feature, called Custom Feeds, lets users describe what kind of content they want to see through conversational prompts, and the platform will generate and continuously update a dedicated feed based on that input. The tool expands on an earlier test in which a limited group of users could interact with an AI chatbot to specify their viewing preferences.
From limited trial to broader rollout
That original experiment introduced a "Your Custom Feed" option positioned alongside the standard Home tab for select users, giving them a way to steer recommendations by describing their interests directly to the system.
The newly expanded version builds significantly on that concept. Instead of maintaining just one alternative feed, users will now be able to create and save several distinct feeds simultaneously, each shaped by a different prompt reflecting a particular mood, interest, or routine.
The company suggests practical use cases, such as building a feed dedicated to long-form documentaries for evening viewing, a separate one for discovering new do-it-yourself content creators, or a feed of shorter podcast episodes suited to a commute. Each saved feed will live on the Home page and refresh automatically with new suggestions over time, keeping separate interests from blending into or influencing the main recommendation stream.
US rollout begins this fall
YouTube says Custom Feeds will begin reaching users across the United States this fall, becoming available on mobile devices, the web platform, and connected TVs. The move effectively turns what had been a narrow, invite-based experiment into a mainstream feature available to a much wider audience.
The announcement was made as part of a broader set of updates unveiled at Made On YouTube 2026, an event where the company also introduced tools such as conversational video editing, built-in A/B testing for creators comparing video performance, and new features supporting live-streaming. Separately, YouTube confirmed it is expanding its Ask YouTube assistant to handle shopping-related queries, including follow-up questions and side-by-side product comparisons, with added support for voice interaction on television devices.
As of now, neither YouTube nor its parent company Google has confirmed an exact launch date for Custom Feeds within the US, nor outlined when — or whether — the feature might extend to India or other international markets.
