YouTube AI custom feed lets you shape recommendations with prompts

If you've ever yelled at your Home feed like it's a stubborn intern - "No more 3-hour conspiracies, give me cozy studio makeovers!" - your moment might be here. YouTube is testing a feature that lets you shape what you see by typing a simple prompt. Yes, you tell the algorithm what you want, and it actually listens. Allegedly.

What's Changing

YouTube is running an experiment that lets users update their Home feed using text prompts. Selected users will see a new chip labeled Your Custom Feed right next to the regular Home tab. Tap it, type what you want to watch more (or less) of, and the recommendations adapt on the fly.

Key details:

• It's experimental and limited to a subset of users.
• It modifies your existing Home recommendations without wiping your history.
• The aim is more control with less menu-diving and fewer "Not interested" clicks.

Why This Matters (Especially If You're a Creator)

Recommendation systems rule discovery. When they're great, they surface hidden gems and revive ancient uploads out of nowhere. When they're bad, they push sludge, outrage bait, or content your audience never asked for. Giving viewers a direct way to say "more of this, less of that" could:

• Help niche creators get discovered by people explicitly searching for their flavor of content.
• Shift the power balance away from pure engagement hacks toward clear topical intent.
• Reduce the guesswork around what the algorithm "wants" and reward precise packaging.

There's also a broader platform tug-of-war at play. Social apps are racing to graft conversational AI onto feeds. X has been touting a future where Grok (its AI assistant) dynamically tunes recommendations from user requests. YouTube testing a prompt-driven feed is a practical, tangible step in that same direction.

What Tech Might Be Under the Hood

Google has several AI building blocks - from large language models like Gemini to media models like Veo. While YouTube hasn't confirmed which stack powers this experiment, the direction is clear: conversational inputs shaping algorithmic outputs. Translation: fewer sliders and toggles, more "just type what you want."

How Creators Can Win in a Prompt-Driven Feed

Use the "Audience Prompt" Method

People will literally type phrases. Bake those phrases into your titles, descriptions, and first 10 seconds of the video so the system can line up intent with your content.

• "cozy desk setup for small rooms"
• "beginner camera settings for indoor videos"
• "calisthenics workouts no equipment 15 minutes"
• "van life winter tips on a budget"
• "how to color grade like a film look in Premiere"
• "urban sketching tutorials for beginners"

Package for Precision, Not Guesswork

• Titles: front-load task and outcome ("Film a Night Scene on Your Phone: Noise-Free Guide").
• Descriptions: include 2-3 natural-language phrases a viewer might type.
• Thumbnails: make the topic stupidly obvious; avoid generic faces with vague vibes.
• Chapters: label with searchable intents ("Lighting Setup," "Color Profile," "Final LUT").
• Series Playlists: consistent naming helps the system cluster your niche ("30-Day Blender Bootcamp").
• Community Posts: mirror the language your audience uses; this often feeds topic understanding.

Shorts Strategy (Because That Feed Is... Temperamental)

• Hook with the exact intent: "POV: You need B-roll that looks expensive - fast."
• On-screen text should match how users might prompt.
• Pin comments that restate the problem/solution in plain language.

What It Means for Viewers

Instead of doom-scrolling and praying the algorithm "gets" you, you can nudge it directly. That could cut down on whiplash between wildly different topics, reduce the odds of falling into content rabbit holes you never wanted, and help you sustain healthier viewing patterns. Emphasis on "could."

Caveats and Open Questions

• It's a test. It may never roll out broadly.
• Filter bubbles can get stronger when people steer too precisely - expect platform-level safety checks.
• Bad actors might try prompt-stuffing (think SEO, but for feeds). YouTube will likely counter with quality and trust signals.
• Regulatory pressure in regions like the EU favors user controls and transparency - this feature aligns with that direction.

How to Tell If You Have It

Look for a chip labeled Your Custom Feed beside Home on your YouTube homepage. If you see it, you're in the experiment. Try prompts like:

• "beginner documentary lighting on a budget"
• "silent work-with-me lo-fi 2 hours"
• "behind the scenes of music video shoots"
• "photo editing in Lightroom mobile teal orange alternative"

Creator Checklist: Get Prompt-Ready in 20 Minutes

1. List 10 phrases your ideal viewer would type to find you.
2. Rewrite your last 5 titles to include the exact task/outcome.
3. Add 2 intent phrases to the top of each description.
4. Swap one ambiguous thumbnail for a visual that screams the topic.
5. Group related videos into a clearly named series playlist.
6. Post a Community poll using those phrases to validate audience language.

Bottom Line

Typing a prompt to tune your YouTube recommendations is a small UI change with big consequences: viewers get control; creators get clearer demand signals. If this sticks, the winners will be the channels that package content around the exact words their audience uses. Don't wait - optimize your titles, descriptions, and thumbnails for promptable intent now, so when the door opens, you're first through it.