YouTube’s New AI Search Carousel Is Changing How We Discover Videos — Here’s What You Need to Know You know that moment when you type something like “best cafés in Paris” into YouTube, and you’re buried under a flood of random vlogs, listicles, and unrelated reviews? Yeah, we’ve all been there. But that chaotic hunt for the right video might soon be a thing of the past. YouTube just rolled out an AI-powered search carousel — and it’s not just another shiny feature. It’s a smart, intuitive, and (honestly) much-needed step forward that could completely change how we search for and interact with video content. Let me break it down — not like a press release, but like someone who geeks out about this stuff and actually uses YouTube every day. --- What Is YouTube’s AI Search Carousel? In simple terms: YouTube now shows an AI-generated video carousel when you search for things like: Travel recommendations Local activities and attractions Shopping inspirati...
How I’m Really Using AI in My Ads (And What No One Tells You)
Let me be honest with you.
When I first heard about AI being used in advertising, I rolled my eyes.
Great, another shiny tech thing everyone’s pretending to understand.
I was already juggling too many tools, too many platforms, too many metrics. The last thing I wanted was another “must-have” to add to the pile.
But curiosity got the better of me. And I’ll tell you what—it didn’t just change how I run ads. It changed how I think about marketing altogether.
Here’s how it all happened. No hype. No jargon. Just me, figuring things out as I go.
The Day I Gave AI a Chance (Spoiler: It Wasn’t Perfect)
It started with a late night and a totally dead campaign.
I’d spent hours writing what I thought was solid ad copy. I picked the perfect image. I ran the ad... and crickets. Zero engagement. Barely any clicks. I was frustrated, tired, and pretty close to giving up on it.
So I opened up one of those AI copy tools out of desperation. Just to see what it would spit out.
What I got back wasn’t perfect, but it sparked something. It helped me think in a different way. I tweaked what it gave me, added my voice back into it, and hit publish.
The ad took off.
I didn’t fully understand how—but it worked. And that was the start of me learning to work with AI instead of pushing it away.
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I Still Write My Own Stuff (But I Let AI Sit at the Table)
Let me clear something up: I’m still the writer. I still craft the message. But now, AI is kind of like my brainstorming buddy. The one who throws out 20 random ideas so I can find the one that clicks.
It’s not that I can’t write ads on my own. It’s that sometimes, when I’m stuck, it helps to have something—anything—to react to.
And AI? It never gets tired. Never runs out of ideas. Never rolls its eyes when I ask for another version.
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I Don’t Trust It Blindly (Because It Doesn’t Know My People)
Here’s what I’ve learned, though—AI is smart, but it doesn’t know my people. It doesn’t know the inside jokes my audience laughs at. It doesn’t feel the emotion behind my product. It doesn’t understand why I started my business in the first place.
Only I know that.
So while AI might suggest a headline or an image or a timing strategy, I always go back to my gut. I look at it and ask myself: Would this make me stop scrolling? Would this actually speak to someone I care about?
That’s the part AI can’t do. And honestly, that’s the part I don’t ever want it to.
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The Unsexy Truth: It’s a Lot of Testing
Using AI doesn’t magically make your ads perfect. I wish it did.
What it does is make it easier to test faster. I can try five different variations in a fraction of the time. I can see which audiences respond to what. I can catch a bad idea before it eats my whole budget.
But it still takes trial and error. It still takes failure. It still takes me, sitting there, analyzing what’s working and what’s not.
No tool is going to save you from the work. That part is still mine.
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The Bottom Line: It’s Not Scary. It’s Just a Tool.
If you’re like I was—feeling overwhelmed, maybe a little skeptical—I get it. All this AI stuff can feel too big, too fast, too impersonal.
But here’s what I’ve learned after months of actually using it:
AI is not the villain.
It’s not going to replace you.
It’s not here to steal your creativity.
It’s just a tool. A really smart, really fast, really weird tool.
And if you stay human—if you use it with intention and heart—it can actually make your work better.
Not easier.
Better.
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Real Questions I Asked (and You Might Be Asking Too)
Q: Will AI replace copywriters and advertisers?
Nope. Not the good ones. AI can write generic stuff, but connection? Emotion? Storytelling? That’s still 100% human. And honestly, I think the people who blend AI with their own voice will be the ones who stand out.
Q: Do I need to be super tech-savvy to use AI in ads?
Not at all. Most tools are simple. If you can write a post or create a Canva graphic, you can figure this out. Start small. Play around. You don’t need to master everything—just enough to be dangerous (in a good way).
Q: What’s your favorite AI tool right now?
Honestly? ChatGPT for writing ideas. Google Performance Max for running smarter ads without babysitting them 24/7. I don’t use 50 tools. I stick with a few that actually help me think clearer and work faster.
Q: Does AI make ads feel robotic?
It can. If you just copy and paste what it gives you, yeah—it’s going to feel cold. But if you take what it gives, add your own voice, your own quirks, your own weirdness—that’s when it actually works.
Q: How do I keep my brand “me” if I use AI?
Don’t hand over the wheel. Stay involved. Use AI to get ideas, not to replace your soul. Always ask yourself: Would I say this out loud? Would my audience recognize me in this message? If not, go back and rewrite it until it feels right.
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That’s my honest take.
No filters, no hype, no buzzwords.
If you’re curious about using AI in your advertising, try it. But do it your way. Keep your voice in the room. Stay weird. Stay human.
We’re not getting replaced.
We’re evolving.
#HonestMarketing #AIWithoutTheHype #RealTalkAds #CreativityMatters #HumanFirstAdvertising #NoFluffMarketing #MeAndMyAI
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