TikTok is testing AI-generated search results
TikTok is testing a more robust search results page, including using generative AI. The feature appears to be a new and is called “search highlights.”
A snippet of AI results appear at the top of some search results pages, and clicking into the section opens a new page with the full response. In quick tests, I was able to find AI results for queries about recipes or topics like “best laptops 2024.”
A page explaining the results says that the material is generated using ChatGPT, and that TikTok displays the content “when [the algorithm] finds them relevant to your search.” The feature appears to be limited so far: not all queries have AI answers.
There’s also a similar feature called “search highlights” that are not labeled as AI-generated. Those, too, show up at the top of search results, but it’s not clear where that information is coming from, like whether it’s summarizing videos or taken from someplace else. TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the features.
The video platform has steadily added more features to its in-app search. Last fall, TikTok began testing adding Google Search results to its in-app results page that essentially acted as a link back to Google. TikTok has also experimented with adding links to Wikipedia, IMDb, and other websites directly in the app’s search results page.
TikTok is trying to harness some of the habits its users — especially younger people — have developed on the app. Many younger users treat TikTok like a search engine, opting to look up restaurant or product recommendations in the app instead of using platforms like Google Search. And like Google, TikTok now seems to be leaning into AI results by including them above creator content.
TikTok is testing a more robust search results page, including using generative AI. The feature appears to be a new and is called “search highlights.” A snippet of AI results appear at the top of some search results pages, and clicking into the section opens a new page with the…
Recent Posts
- LaCie 8big Pro5 review: I tested LaCie’s huge 256TB DAS solution, and it’s ideal for 8K video editing but it comes with a price tag that’s just as big
- Buying your dad a tech gift or gadget for Father’s Day? You may want to wait until Prime Day, if possible
- Which Amazon Fire Stick do I need? A simple guide to the key differences
- Stellar Blade’s slick-looking sequel is officially called Blood Rain
- How much data does your favorite messaging app collect? New study shows 90% of messaging apps now include AI that puts privacy at risk
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023