AI Understands Its Cousin Platforms
But Lack of Platform Cross-coordination Hamstrings Excellent AI
Throughout my life, I’ve curated my “training” data carefully. My parents set the tone for me when I was little, so I have them to thank for this lifelong habit. I have a sizable media library that includes classics like 12 Angry Men (both versions), The Usual Suspects, or The Wire, and an audiobook library that goes back 20+ years.
The only reason I “watch” YouTube is to support YouTubers whose values I respect. But since I only have background sound on for relatively trivial tasks that don’t require focus (which work and AI chats require), I can only squeeze in a few hours’ worth of YouTube into my day. So I asked Gemini how to use those limited YouTube hours to maximum effect. Gemini gave me an expert breakdown of its cousin platform.
I was all the more impressed by Gemini’s analysis of the YouTube metrics because it showed a granular understanding of the mechanics that I’d previously observed Gemini failing to incorporate into a tutorial recommendation. So the analytical capability and the extensive knowledge are clearly there, but poor coordination is keeping this capable AI from truly shining.
In the chat excerpts below, I’ve spelled out abbreviations and clarified references for readability—my actual prompts were more compressed due to context limits.
Want to see how this unfolded? Here are excerpts of pivotal points from that actual conversation.
Gemini’s Expert Take on YouTube Optimization
Prompt: We discussed in this chat how to boost algos for YouTubers I follow because that’s my only reason for watching YouTube. Could you draft a summary of what the best practices might be for somebody like me? Also I was curious if the timing of engagement mattered. Is giving a thumbs-up after viewing weighted more than prior?
Prompt: The timing question occurred to me today. Glad I asked. For those YouTube clips I know I’ll like, I click ahead of time because I might be busy doing other things while just listening. But I guess I’ll be retracing my steps now and give the thumbs-up later!
Excellent AI Needs Support to Truly Shine
Prompt: The YouTube video you linked is a very bad example of a how-to guide. (Not bashing here, just providing reasoned criticism.) The background videos are completely unrelated to the topic of the raised hand icon, and the slides look very basic (they look “homemade”). All the video needed to show was a screenshot with the icon, so I could see what the icon looked like and where to look for it. I guess I’m not subscribing to that channel!
Prompt: No wonder they got 0 likes and 17 views (surprising you even found it). I left a thumbs down.
Prompt: Shouldn’t Google have short instructional videos about these features? They’re product features after all?
[Note: Google’s video search can direct users to specific timestamp segments within YouTube videos, showing they have sophisticated video content analysis technology. Yet Gemini apparently can’t access this same capability when making video recommendations—another example of coordination failures preventing a capable AI from leveraging the parent company’s existing innovations.]