YouTube's Gemini AI Powers Custom Video Feeds, Ask YouTube Surges

Key Takeaways

• YouTube launches custom AI feeds using Google's Gemini model, letting users type prompts to build personalized video feeds on web and mobile starting next month.
• Ask YouTube, running on a custom Gemini model, now helps users compare products; over 140 million people used it in June, up more than 500% since December.
• YouTube expands AI editing tools for Shorts and the YouTube Create app, plus Shopping affiliate access to 35 countries with over 1.3 million enrolled creators.
• Seattle becomes the first U.S. city to ban AI-driven grocery pricing, targeting chains with at least 20 locations worldwide; algorithmic pricing caused price differences of up to 23%.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky warns the UN that AI may soon decide battlefield outcomes and urges peace before machines gain that power.
• A U.S. Census Bureau study finds graduates in AI-exposed majors in the top 10% face a 5-point employment drop and a 13% earnings decline post-graduation.
• MACOM unveils a 3.2-terabit optical chipset doubling data rates for data centers and 5G; the stock surged 12% to $123.50 after the announcement.
• NVIDIA, AMD, and Micron are highlighted as key AI infrastructure stocks tied to data center and hardware demand.
• Google DeepMind releases AlphaGenome Atlas, a free database predicting genome changes at higher resolution, though wet-lab verification remains essential.
• A hybrid AI system at the University of Birjand uses a Stacking Ensemble model trained on 416,558 records to predict grades and guide academic advising in real time.

YouTube lets users create custom AI-powered video feeds

YouTube announced a new feature called custom feeds that uses Google's Gemini AI model. Users type a description of what they want to see in a prompt box. The AI builds a personalized feed based on that request. Multiple custom feeds will roll out on web and mobile starting next month.

YouTube adds shopping tools to Ask YouTube AI feature

YouTube's Ask YouTube feature now helps users compare products while shopping. Users can get organized recommendations with comparison tables based on their preferences. Over 140 million people used Ask YouTube in June, a jump of more than 500% since December. The feature runs on a custom Gemini model that matches questions to the exact video moment.

YouTube expands AI editing tools and shopping to 35 countries

YouTube is rolling out AI editing tools for Shorts and the YouTube Create app powered by Gemini. Creators can get feedback on drafts, generate thumbnails, and run A/B tests on video cuts. The Shopping affiliate program will expand to 35 countries with over 1.3 million enrolled creators. Live auto-dubbing is set to begin testing in early 2027.

YouTube promises more AI features and immersive live streams

YouTube is planning a range of new AI-powered features expected later this year. The AI-powered feed will learn user preferences and serve more tailored content. The company is also working on immersive live stream features like 360-degree video and augmented reality. Users may also see more context around videos, including creator info and popularity details.

Seattle bans AI-driven grocery pricing in first-in-nation law

The Seattle City Council approved a first-in-the-nation ban on AI-driven grocery pricing known as surveillance pricing. The law prohibits large grocers from using personal data to set individual prices. A 2025 Consumer Reports study found algorithmic pricing caused price differences of up to 23% for the same groceries. The ordinance applies to chains with at least 20 locations worldwide and now goes to Mayor Katie Wilson for signature.

Seattle bans AI and personal data from grocery pricing

Seattle leaders approved new rules stopping grocery stores from using AI and personal data to set prices. Mayor Katie Wilson and City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced the Fair and Transparent Pricing policy on Monday. Councilmembers Dionne Foster and Rob Saka also supported the effort. The goal is to make grocery shopping fairer for everyone.

New goal-driven method categorizes process variants using LLMs

Process discovery often produces many variants that are hard to group and understand. This paper proposes a goal-driven approach where an organization's goal model guides the categorization. Each variant becomes a textual narrative that a Large Language Model interprets against the goal model. The method was tested on three public logs of different sizes. It produces categories tied to business goals but requires effort to build the goal model.

MACOM unveils 3.2-terabit optical chipset doubling data rates

MACOM Technology Solutions announced a 3.2-terabit optical chipset on September 17 built around eight 448-Gbps PAM-4 channels. The chipset doubles the data rate of MACOM's existing optical components used in data centers, cloud computing, and 5G wireless networks. The stock surged 12% to $123.50 a day after the announcement. CEO Stephen G. M. Willson called it a major breakthrough and a game changer for customers.

Jihadist groups adopt AI as terrorist capability multiplier

Twenty-five years after 9/11, terrorism has entered the AI era. Authorities have thwarted recent plots that revealed terrorist organizations now use AI in significant ways. AI helps novices build weapons and removes technical barriers that once slowed attack planning. Every major terrorist group sees AI as a game changer, from Al-Qaeda's early efforts to jihadi groups' heavy use of AI chatbots. Experts stress the need for constant monitoring and cooperation with AI companies to prevent future attacks.

Google DeepMind launches AlphaGenome Atlas for genetics research

Google DeepMind released AlphaGenome Atlas, a freely available database for genetics research. The AI tool predicts the impact of changes to the genome at higher resolution than previous models. Researchers can now explore how changes in a single DNA letter could influence up to 1 million pairs of surrounding code. Experts warn that wet-lab experiments are still essential to verify the AI predictions despite the tool's advances.

3 AI Infrastructure Stocks for Data Center Demand

Retail investors are watching three stocks tied to data center and AI hardware growth. NVIDIA, AMD, and Micron are highlighted as leaders in GPUs, CPUs, and memory storage. The article notes that AI safety debates and export controls can both help and hurt these stocks. Investors are urged to monitor news closely as the data center build-out continues.

Zelensky Warns AI Could Decide Battlefield Outcomes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the UN that AI may soon decide what happens on the battlefield. He said peace is needed before machines gain that power. The article also mentions Trump's plan to rename AI as super intelligence. Experts compare the risk to the movie Terminator.

AI-Exposed Graduates Face Job Market Challenges

A U.S. Census Bureau study found college graduates in AI-exposed majors saw lower employment and earnings after graduation. Those in the top 10 percent of exposure faced a 5-point drop in employment and a 13-percent earnings decline. Many shifted from tech and professional jobs into retail and hospitality. Researchers compared the impact to the 2008 Great Recession.

Hybrid AI System Aids Academic Advising

A new AI framework helps university students with academic advising using two parts. A Stacking Ensemble model predicts grades using data from 416,558 records at the University of Birjand. A rule-based expert system then gives recommendations for courses and GPA improvement. The system provides real-time feedback such as probation risk warnings on the university portal.

Sources

• YouTube will let you build your own algorithm with AI
• YouTube doubles down on video shopping with AI-powered 'Ask YouTube' feature
• YouTube is rolling out AI editing tools and expanding its shopping program to 35 countries
• YouTube promises custom feeds and a lot more AI later this year
• Seattle ban on AI-driven grocery pricing sparks warnings of lost discounts from retailers
• Seattle bans AI-driven personal data in grocery pricing
• Goal-driven Variant Categorization
• This Little-Known AI Chip Stock Doubled. Its New Chips Now Double Optical Speed
• Jihadist groups use AI as a capability multiplier for terrorist attacks
• Google DeepMind's latest AI tool promises a new era for genetics research, but experts warn to take its predictions with caution
• 3 AI Infrastructure Stocks Retail Investors Are Watching For Data Center Demand
• Zelensky says AI will soon ‘decide what happens on the battlefield’
• The Most AI-Exposed College Graduates Are Entering Another Great Recession
• A Hybrid AI Framework for Academic Advising: Integrating Ensemble-Based Grade Prediction and a Rule-Based Expert System