YouTube has introduced a new advertising format called Peak Points, which will insert ads immediately after the most exciting or emotional moments in a video. These moments will be identified by Google's AI.
YouTube has introduced a new advertising format called Peak Points, which will insert ads immediately after the most exciting or emotional moments in a video. These moments will be identified by Google's AI.
As TechCrunch reports, the company announced the launch of the format at the YouTube Upfront 2025 presentation held in New York. It is based on the Gemini artificial intelligence model, which analyzes the structure of the video and selects moments with the greatest emotional engagement of viewers.
The new format allows you to show ads not before the video, not in the middle, but after a key moment — for example, the climax of the vlog, unexpected plot twists, moments of a big win, a declaration of love, etc. In this way, YouTube hopes to keep the viewer's attention as much as possible — while they are still emotionally captivated by what they have seen.
The company claims that this format is beneficial for both advertisers and video creators. The former will gain better brand recall (due to the emotional background), the latter - potentially higher content monetization. At the same time, users may be dissatisfied, because the ads will appear at critical moments when the viewer expects the continuation or emotional conclusion of the scene.
In addition, YouTube announced another format, an interactive product feed that allows users to scroll through and purchase products while watching an ad. Both formats are designed to increase the impact of ads without increasing their length.
The new advertising tools are part of Google’s broader strategy to introduce artificial intelligence into its products. Peak Points is based on the concept of emotion-based targeting, a method that has long been used in consumer psychology, but is now automated for the first time on a video platform of this scale.
YouTube previously began experimenting with non-skippable ad breaks, and also expanded in-video shopping capabilities, especially on smartphones.
The new Peak Points format is already being tested, but it is not yet known when it will become available to the general public.
We also recently wrote about a potential new YouTube plan. It's currently being tested in four countries and includes a family subscription for two people.
