YouTube Uses AI to Make Ads Harder to Skip

YouTube is embracing artificial intelligence in its latest effort to target users seeking an uninterrupted viewing experience. Recently, the platform announced intentions to leverage AI models to enhance the effectiveness of advertisements by strategically integrating them into videos.

During its Brandcast 2025 event held in New York City, YouTube disclosed its plan to utilize Google’s Gemini AI for video analysis aimed at optimizing ad placements. This advanced AI will identify pivotal moments, termed “Peak Points,” within videos where viewers are likely to be most engaged, making them less prone to skip the ads.

This AI initiative appears to extend beyond the current histogram available on the YouTube scrub bar that highlights “Most replayed” segments in videos. However, the specific criteria YouTube will apply to determine these peak moments remain unclear.

YouTube has not disclosed other details about the advertisements, such as their length or whether they can be skipped. However, it stands to reason that the platform is unlikely to place shorter or easily dismissible ads, as those characteristics would undermine the strategy of inserting advertisements during the most compelling moments.

While this approach may frustrate viewers, it could be beneficial for content creators, potentially increasing their advertising revenue. The influence on click-through rates (CTR) for advertisers likely hinges on how relevant the ads are to the audience.

All these strategies ultimately aim to encourage viewers to subscribe to YouTube Premium. The service has attempted various methods to persuade users to make the switch, including offering limited ad-free trial periods and introducing plans with fewer advertisements. Additionally, YouTube is actively working to make ad-blocking tools less effective, particularly for those using Chrome as their primary browser.

In a separate initiative, YouTube announced that it will stream the NFL Week One game from Brazil live on September 5th, accessible to all viewers without requiring a subscription.