Google is testing AI chatbot search for YouTube
Google is trying out an AI Mode-like search experience for YouTube. The company is now testing “a new way to search on YouTube that feels more like a conversation,” with results pulling in things like longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and text about what you’re searching for. The “experiment” is now available if you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber in the US who is 18 or older.
I turned it on for my account. Now, in the search bar, I see an “Ask YouTube” button, and clicking the search bar shows prompts to ask like “funny baby elephant playing clips,” “summary of the rules of volleyball,” and “short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing.” If I keep the search box blank but click the Ask YouTube button, YouTube takes me to a full page with suggested searches and a text box to ask a question.
Meta launches Instagram spinoff Instants similar to Snapchat
The new app allows users to share disappearing photos, similar to competitor app Snapchat, with which Meta has a long-standing rivalry.
Instagram is trying out another way to engage younger audiences, via a Snapchat-like separate app called Instants that emphasizes the raw, unedited content sharing of temporary photos.
The catchphrase for the app is “real life, real quick.” with the idea being that Instants will enable simple image editing in a privacy-friendly way. “No edits, share instantly,” the Google Play Store description says.
Instants is essentially a renamed version of Shots, which was a feature Meta tried out in Instagram last year.
XChat Officially Launched Ready to Challenge WhatsApp
The X platform officially launched XChat, an independent application for iPhone and iPad users. This marks the company’s big step in expanding its digital ecosystem beyond social media.
The app is available this month on the App Store for the United States region and can be used on devices running iOS 26.0 or later.
The presence of XChat immediately sparked speculation that X was seriously challenging the dominance of established messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage. Unlike the direct message feature in the main X application, XChat is a private communication space that stands alone. Users can chat with anyone on the X platform without having to open the main application.
At its first launch, XChat already supports private messages, group chats, audio and video calls, to file sharing. The company also claims that all messages are protected with end-to-end encryption and additional security in the form of a PIN. Interestingly, X insists that this application is free of advertising and does not track user activity. In today’s digital landscape, claims like this are clearly a big selling point.
Other features that are embedded include messages that can disappear automatically, the option to edit and delete messages for all participants in the conversation, to the notification or blocking system when someone tries to take a screenshot. If usually screenshots are the secret weapon of netizens, in XChat it seems that it can be an alarm.
OpenAI Adds CPC Ads to ChatGPT
OpenAI has begun testing cost-per-click advertising in ChatGPT, and that change matters far beyond media buying mechanics. It signals that ChatGPT is no longer being treated only as a product people use for answers, research, and productivity. It is also being developed into an advertising environment where commercial intent can be identified, priced, and measured.
That distinction is important. An impression-based pilot can be written off as an early monetization experiment. A click-based model is different. CPC pricing pulls ChatGPT closer to the logic that has defined search advertising for years: users express intent, platforms match that intent to relevant offers, and advertisers pay when someone takes action. Once that model appears inside a conversational interface, the discussion changes from “Will AI assistants ever monetize like search?” to “How quickly will advertising budgets move into AI assistants if performance holds up?”
Early reporting suggests pilot advertisers are seeing CPC bids in the $3 to $5 range. At the same time, earlier ChatGPT ad pricing reportedly fell from launch CPMs near $60 to levels closer to $25 in some cases. That combination tells a very clear story. OpenAI is still learning how to price attention inside ChatGPT, and it is moving toward a model that performance marketers understand more easily.
JioHotstar unveils signal-led commerce advertising to drive intent-based brand engagement
JioHotstar has announced the launch of an industry-first signal-led commerce advertising capability, aimed at enabling brands to engage with high-intent audiences through more precise, data-driven targeting across its premium streaming ecosystem. The new offering marks a shift from traditional demographic-based advertising to an intent-driven model, allowing brands to connect with consumers based on real purchase signals and behavioral insights.
The capability debuts in partnership with Instamart, which becomes the first brand to leverage the platform, signalling a new phase of integrated, full-funnel digital advertising. Designed to seamlessly connect discovery, engagement, and action, the solution allows users to move from content consumption to product exploration through embedded call-to-action formats within the viewing experience.
Launched during the ongoing high-engagement cricket season, the offering taps into one of the largest and most active audience bases on JioHotstar, enabling advertisers to reach consumers at moments of peak receptivity. By using aggregated, privacy-safe commerce signals, brands can deliver more relevant messaging and drive meaningful engagement across live sports and entertainment content.
Amazon launches an AI-powered audio Q&A experience on product pages
Amazon launched a new AI-powered feature on Tuesday that allows users to ask questions about products and receive conversational audio responses generated in real time. The responses are delivered by what the company calls “AI-powered shopping experts,” which present information in a natural, discussion-style format.
The new “Join the chat” feature aims to save customers time by providing key product details without requiring them to scroll through lengthy descriptions or reviews. The AI pulls together insights about product features, customer feedback, and other relevant information. For example, shoppers can ask questions like whether a coffee maker is suited for beginners or whether a sweater feels itchy based on customer reviews.
Rather than giving generic answers, Amazon says the AI builds on previous responses to provide more relevant and helpful information, while also making sure not to repeat anything. This is meant to be a similar experience to speaking with a knowledgeable employee at a store.
And that’s a wrap
That wraps up our April 29th update. From JioHotstar turning cricket season into a direct-purchase storefront to Amazon’s new ‘AI Shopping Experts’ answering your product questions in real-time, the path from discovery to delivery has never been more seamless.
As platforms move from static pages to interactive, conversational commerce, the message for 2026 is clear: the future of retail isn’t just about showing a product, it’s about holding a conversation.
Signing off. Your Host. See you next week
