New Report: The State of YouTube in AI Search
We analyzed how Perplexity, AI Overviews, AI Mode, and ChatGPT cite YouTube channels and videos across every brand we track, and published the results as a free report: The State of YouTube in AI Search.
What’s in the report
- Per-AI share and rank: how much each AI platform leans on YouTube, and where YouTube ranks among its most-cited sources
- Search intent breakdown: which kinds of questions (learning, transactional, commercial) get answered with videos, with real examples
- Channel size: a subscriber-count histogram showing that small channels get cited far more often than you’d guess
- Video leverage: whether AIs prefer narrow single-question videos or comprehensive overviews
- Long-form vs Shorts: which format actually earns citations
- Deep links: how each AI links into videos — timestamps vs text fragments
The playbook
The report closes with a six-item action plan for earning YouTube citations, starting with the strategic frame: pick the question a buyer asks AI that would lead them to your business, then make the video that answers it. The rest covers format (long form, not Shorts), focus (one question per video), and delivery (teach something valuable, answer the question directly).
Where to find it
The report is free and public at knowatoa.com/reports/youtube-citations. No account required. Share it with whoever runs your video strategy.