YouTube has announced a major leap in advertising technology with the launch of its new AI-powered feature, Peak Points, aimed at identifying the most engaging moments in a video to deliver more impactful ads.
The reveal was made during Brandcast 2025, YouTube’s flagship event for advertisers, which coincided with the wider Upfront 2025 celebrations in New York City—a period marked by new content slates and ad-tech rollouts from top networks and platforms.
Peak Points uses Google’s Gemini AI model to analyze extensive viewer data across YouTube’s platform, including video frames and transcripts. It determines high-engagement segments within videos, helping advertisers place ads where audience attention is at its peak. The goal is to maximize ad visibility, increase engagement, and ultimately boost campaign performance for brands.
In addition to Peak Points, YouTube rolled out three other advertising innovations:
- Cultural Moments Sponsorship: This enables brands to align their messaging with key cultural and live events like sports tournaments and entertainment award shows.
- Masthead on Connected TV (CTV): A redesigned, full-screen ad format on YouTube’s CTV homepage, offering a more immersive brand experience.
- Shoppable CTV: A new feature that allows viewers to shop products directly from ads on their smart TVs, combining retail with entertainment seamlessly.
In another big announcement, YouTube shared that it will live stream an upcoming Friday-night NFL game in Brazil for free, appealing to sports enthusiasts globally and showcasing the platform’s growing presence in live sports streaming.
These advancements, especially the AI-backed Peak Points, signal YouTube’s commitment to evolving its ad ecosystem. By equipping advertisers, agencies, and media buyers with precision tools, YouTube is aiming to enhance viewer experiences while helping brands achieve stronger results in an increasingly competitive digital space.
