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Youtube Media Software

YouTube Is Testing Automatic Product Detection In Videos (theverge.com) 33

Posted by BeauHD from the recommendation-algorithms dept.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: YouTube is always running experiments. One of its latest: testing an automated list of products detected in videos uploaded to the site. As of March 22nd this year, that test is being expanded to "people watching videos in the US," according to YouTube. In one of its blogs, a YouTube representative gave a little more detail about how this particular feature will be deployed: "We are experimenting with a new feature that displays a list of products detected in some videos, as well as related products. The feature will appear in between the recommended videos, to viewers scrolling below the video player. The goal is to help people explore more videos and information about those products on YouTube.
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YouTube Is Testing Automatic Product Detection In Videos More

YouTube Is Testing Automatic Product Detection In Videos

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  • This is to prevent direct in-video monetization (Score:3)

    by sinij ( 911942 ) on Tuesday March 23, 2021 @08:05AM (#61188720)
    I speculate that YouTube wants to further solidify control on content and prevent in-video advertising directly by content creators.

    • I speculate that YouTube wants to further solidify control on content and prevent in-video advertising directly by content creators.

      Yep, this is gonna suck for those channels that feature products and give associates links to them in their descriptions, and on screen sponsorships.

    • "Your video has been removed because there was a Coca-Cola can in the background" isn't going to be popular with creators. Products exist naturally in the world.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by sinij ( 911942 )
        Your assumption that YouTube cares about what is popular with creators is demonstrably not true. Every creator that could flee YouTube and its monetization already did. Because nobody wants to deal with arbitrary, retroactive and algorithmic demonetization.

      • Creators? No. People who watch content? Yes. Remember this is slashdot. Home of the "we hate ads". From our VCRs with ad-skipping, to our browsers with ad-blocking. Any products in our view should have the equivalent of "obscenity bars" over it les we lose control and go on a spending spree with our parents credit card.

  • Correction: The goal is to show the users more publicity and hence make Google more money.
    That's ok, but I wish they didn't always try to paint it as a benefit for the user. I guess they have to but I don't like being treated like a child.
    • You're not being treated like a child. Google is simply always looking for ways to simplify your life and place all the information directly at your fingertips in order for you to make good decisions to improve your quality of life. Much like your employer is always looking for ways to streamline your procedures in order to make you more productive and happy. You want to be happier, don't you?
      • If you do not attach a smiley or something, many people will think you mean it. You don't, do you?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by q4Fry ( 1322209 )

      Indeed. The goal is referral links. Sergey's zeppelin is powered by referral links.

  • All these in-store surveillance cameras that stream directly to Youtube have to be good for something...

  • Better keep your sex dolls and guns in the closet when you tape to post your videos. Or better yet, do videos going through shopping centers and stores. Or even better than that, Use Deep fakes to make up a bunch of fake products in your videos..

  • I wonder how much product placement is worth. (Score:3)

    by bobstreo ( 1320787 ) on Tuesday March 23, 2021 @08:45AM (#61188820)

    They do it all the time in movies/tv shows. It seems quite profitable.

    Maybe the best way to monetize your youtube cat videos.

  • If/when I watch a video, I can't recall a single time when I wanted to "explore" a product that happened to be visible. "Oh! Please tell me more about the soda that guy is drinking!" "Ooh! I love his bling! Tell me more!"

    Seriously... is this what FB considers innovative? Sad and pathetic.

  • So it detects....people? I mean, that IS effectively the only product YouTube (Google) cares about.
  • If you think of YouTube as the client software here, this is actually how the web was supposed to work. The client software can present the info contained in the message in any form that is desirable and useful to the user of the client software.

  • In other words (Score:3)

    by RitchCraft ( 6454710 ) on Tuesday March 23, 2021 @11:43AM (#61189508)
    "The goal is to help people explore more videos and information about those products on YouTube." Translation: shoving more ads down your throat.

    • "The goal is to help people explore more videos and information about those products on YouTube." Translation: shoving more ads down your throat.

      It's the internet, everything you don't set up by yourself is about shoving more ads down your throat.

  • If this works about as accurately as Content ID and Youtube's automatic banning algorithms, I fully expect to see random ads for wheelchairs and pillows pop up when I listen to music.

  • Having spent a couple of solitary hours relaxing on the couch watching TV, I realize my girlfriend will be dropping over in half an hour, and it's time to make myself presentable. So I hit the power button on the remote to turn off the set. I stand up, carefully place my feet shoulder width apart, bend forward slightly, flex my knees, concentrate for a moment and unapologetically enjoy a loud, lengthy, deeply satisfying episode of flatulence. Then, off I go for the required shower, shave, shampoo...and a

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Kazymyr ( 190114 )

      There is a way to turn "smart" electronics off. Unplug from power. And/or remove batteries. If you have gadgets with non-removable batteries, well then the fault is yours.

  • Yaaaaay. (Score:3)

    by kackle ( 910159 ) on Tuesday March 23, 2021 @12:41PM (#61189812)

    The goal is to help people explore more videos and information about those products on YouTube.

    And there was much rejoicing...

    It's a shame that very smart people are going to work on this versus actually tackling some woes of humanity. If cancer, for example, is arguably 'buggy programming', I'd figure assisting the medical researchers would be possible, if not likely. Think not? Recall the successful protein-folding game [fold.it].

    But that's not as sexy as working for Google, not to mention the dollars.

  • It will be a cold day in hell when I click on an affiliate link under a Youtube video.

  • They'll have to be careful or Mega Construx will be mistaken for LEGO, Matchbox cars will be mistaken for Hot Wheels. Most full-size cars will be mistaken for some other brand and that server (Sun Microsystems) might be mistaken for a jacket (Columbia Sportswear) since their logos are so similar.

    It might be fun to try to fool this thing. Like some other fools, I have thought about rebadging my car - just for fun, of course. I won't fool a single sentient human being even if I put a Rolls Royce hood orname

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