YouTube has unveiled a new ad format called “Peak Points,” designed to insert advertisements immediately after the most emotionally engaging or climactic moments in videos. This initiative, announced during YouTube’s Upfront presentation in New York, leverages Google’s Gemini AI to analyze content and identify segments with the highest viewer engagement.
The strategy aims to capitalize on viewers’ heightened emotional states, a concept akin to emotion-based targeting, where ads are placed to align with the emotions evoked by the content. The rationale is that viewers are more likely to recall advertisements presented during these peak emotional moments.
However, this approach may lead to viewer frustration, as ads interrupt the emotional flow of the content, prompting a desire to quickly return to the video.
In addition to Peak Points, YouTube introduced a shoppable product feed, allowing users to browse and purchase items directly during an ad, enhancing the interactivity of advertisements on the platform.