AI Experiment: Can Google Bard & ChatGPT Summarize Hours-Long YouTube Videos?
Can we quickly summarize hours-long YouTube videos into brief reads in just a few minutes? That's the question I set out to answer, using Google Bard and ChatGPT. It all started when I stumbled upon a clip of a two-hour long video featuring Jeff Bezos discussing the use of presentations in Amazon. Intrigued, I wanted to find out if the full video delved into detail and if it was worth investing two hours of my time. So, I decided to put Google Bard to the test. Let me show you what happened.
Google Bard: The Quest for the Perfect Summary
I provided the video URL to Google Bard and asked it to summarize the video for me. It gave me a very short summary, which wasn't enough for me to make a decision. So, I requested a more detailed summary, and this time Bard provided four main topics discussed in the video. While it was an improvement, I still needed more details. I asked for a summary in 50 bullet points, hoping to get a comprehensive overview, but the response fell short with only six points. Google Bard couldn't provide the level of detail I was looking for, so I decided to try a different approach.
Since my interest in the video was specifically about presentations, I asked Bard to search for content directly related to presentations. The response was more in-depth and included the majority of the information I was seeking. I was satisfied with this answer, but I still wished for a deeper dive into more details.
ChatGPT: Exploring Another Avenue
Next, I attempted to summarize the video using ChatGPT. However, it's important to note that you need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to test this feature. I made the same request I did to Google Bard, but to my surprise, ChatGPT said it was unable to access the content of the YouTube video directly. I asked again, reminding it that it can summarize YouTube videos using the internet, but it still couldn't provide a summary. I'm not sure if this limitation is due to YouTube policies or an internal handling by ChatGPT. Regardless, I decided to explore alternative approaches with ChatGPT.
I attempted to summarize the video using ChatGPT's plugins, starting with the Web Pilot plugin. This time, I got a basic summary, similar to what Google Bard provided. It even included accurate timestamps from the video. However, the Web Pilot plugin didn't offer the desired level of detail. So, I tried the Vox script plugin instead. The summary using Vox script was slightly more detailed, but not significantly different from the Web Pilot plugin.
I then requested a summary in 50 bullet points, similar to what I had done with Google Bard. Unfortunately, ChatGPT said it couldn't provide a detailed summary and suggested that I watch the video instead. I encouraged it to try again, assuring ChatGPT of its capability. This time, it offered a list of 10 topics from the video, falling short of the 50 I asked for. It seems that the Web Pilot plugin wasn't able to provide the desired level of detail for the breakdown.
The Transcript Approach: A Gamechanger
Undeterred, I decided to try a fourth and final approach. I directly inputted the transcript of the video into ChatGPT. First, I visited Lex Friedman's YouTube channel and clicked on the video. After clicking "Show Transcript," the transcript appeared on the right side. I manually selected and copied the entire transcript, saved it in a text file, and uploaded the file to ChatGPT.
ChatGPT provided a basic summary, similar to what I had seen with the other methods. I then asked for a summary in 50 bullet points, but ChatGPT declined, citing the complexity and length of the content. I decided to prompt it once more, insisting on its capability. This time, it compiled a 50 bullet point summary from the transcript. I was impressed.
I then requested it to extract content related to presentations, and it successfully delivered a detailed summary specifically on that topic. This approach proved to be the most effective for summarizing YouTube content.
A Quick Recap
So, here's a quick rundown of my experiment:
- Google Bard provided a decent summary but couldn't deliver the desired level of detail. It did, however, pinpoint specific video content that I was interested in.
- ChatGPT couldn't provide a summary initially, but with the help of plugins, such as Web Pilot and Vox script, it gave solid summaries with Vox script handling the 50-point challenge slightly better.
- Uploading the transcript directly to ChatGPT proved to be a game-changer. It efficiently accomplished all the tasks, providing both basic and detailed summaries, as well as extracting specific video segments.
Ultimately, both ChatGPT and Bard influenced my decision to watch the video. Thanks to their summaries, I realized that the full video was indeed worthwhile and would have missed out on it if not for their assistance.
If you found this video interesting, be sure to subscribe to our channel and like this video to see more AI-related content. And remember, with the help of AI, you can quickly navigate through hours of video content and find the gems worth watching.
FAQs
1. Can Google Bard summarize a YouTube video effectively?
Google Bard can provide a decent summary of a YouTube video. However, it falls short when it comes to delivering in-depth details. It can pinpoint specific video content but may not provide the desired level of information.
2. Can ChatGPT summarize YouTube videos using its plugins?
ChatGPT offers plugins like Web Pilot and Vox script that can help summarize YouTube videos. While these plugins can provide solid summaries, they may not always offer the level of detail you're looking for. It's worth experimenting with different plugins to find the most effective one for your needs.
3. What is the most effective approach for summarizing YouTube videos?
Uploading the transcript of the YouTube video directly to ChatGPT proved to be the most effective approach. This method allows ChatGPT to analyze the text and provide a comprehensive summary, including specific video segments.
4. Can Google Bard and ChatGPT replace watching a full YouTube video?
While Google Bard and ChatGPT can provide summaries and highlights of YouTube videos, they can't completely replace watching the full video. These tools give you a preview and help you make an informed decision about whether a video is worth your time. But there's always the chance that you might miss out on important nuances and details that can only be experienced by watching the video in its entirety.
5. Are there any limitations to summarizing YouTube videos with AI tools?
Yes, there are limitations to summarizing YouTube videos with AI tools. YouTube's policies may restrict direct access to video content, which can impact the ability of AI tools to summarize videos. Additionally, AI tools have varying levels of capability when it comes to extracting specific details from videos. It's a good idea to experiment with different approaches and tools to find the one that works best for your needs.
- - Reference video: "AI Experiment: Can Google Bard & ChatGPT Summarize Hours-Long YouTube Videos?" by Lex Fridman.
