YouTube Premium has rolled out a new feature called “Jump Ahead,” designed to help users skip over less interesting parts of a video. The feature, currently available for Premium subscribers through youtube.com/new, leverages AI and watch data to pinpoint the most skipped-to sections of a video.
The “Jump Ahead” feature was first tested in March as a small-scale experiment, but YouTube has now expanded its availability to more Premium subscribers. The concept is simple yet innovative: after double-tapping to skip ahead, users will see a small, pill-shaped button in the bottom-right corner that allows them to jump to the point where most viewers tend to skip. The button only appears for a few seconds, encouraging swift decisions. When tapped, a “Jumping over commonly skipped section” overlay appears, guiding users past the less engaging content.
The rollout is part of YouTube’s ongoing series of experiments to improve user engagement and streamline the viewing experience.
The current implementation is limited to the YouTube Android app in the US for English-language videos. The feature does not work on every video, and eligibility appears to be influenced by a video’s view count and other undisclosed factors. Additionally, this experiment requires a Premium subscription and is set to end on June 1, though it might be extended based on user feedback.
While users are familiar with the traditional double-tap to skip ahead 10 seconds, the “Jump Ahead” feature takes it a step further. By using AI and machine learning, YouTube can identify the “next best point” in a video, allowing viewers to avoid unnecessary content and focus on the most engaging parts. This AI-driven approach could signal a new era of personalized video navigation on the platform.
For more information on the new “Jump Ahead” feature, visit youtube.com/new or check out this 9to5Google article.