YouTube has introduced Peak Points, a new ad format that uses AI to place ads immediately after the most engaging moments in videos. The announcement came during YouTube’s Upfront event in New York, a key industry showcase where the company shares its latest products and ad opportunities for brands and marketers.

Peak Points is powered by Google’s Gemini AI model

The company says Peak Points is powered by Google’s Gemini AI technology. The system scans video content, identifies key emotional or high-engagement points, and suggests the best places to insert ads. 

With this new format, brands can place ads at peak moments “where audiences are the most engaged.” The idea behind Peak Points is to move beyond random ad placements and instead use data-driven insights to display ads where viewers are likely to be most involved with the video. 

The company claims this can increase brand recall because the viewer is already emotionally engaged. For example, if a sports highlight video builds up to a game-winning goal, the ad would appear right after that moment.

YouTube also adds shoppable product feeds to CTV ads

YouTube is rolling out a new interactive ad format for connected TV (CTV). The new format adds a shoppable product feed on the right side of the TV screen while an ad plays. This feature allows viewers to browse and purchase products directly from an ad while watching videos. Viewers can scroll through multiple products using their TV remote.

When viewers click on any product in the feed, YouTube prompts them to scan a QR code that appears on the screen. This code links them directly to a product page on their smartphone, where they can continue their shopping journey. There is also an option to press and hold a button on the remote to send a link to their phone with all the featured products in the ad.

YouTube says it is also upgrading its Masthead ads on CTV homepages with a new "immersive design."

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