Picture this: You’re hunting for the perfect headphones and, naturally, you go straight to YouTube. You’re hoping a tech genius—or at least someone with a deep commitment to unboxing videos—has filmed a hands-on review. But wait! This time, something’s different: at the top of your search, there’s a shiny new carousel of “AI-powered results,” promising answers faster than you can say “skip ad.”

Yes, Google’s AI Overviews have officially arrived on YouTube search, and it’s already stirring the digital pot (read all about it here). Some call it genius. Some say it’s the beginning of the end for traditional search. Me? I say it’s flashy, but it still misses one mind-blowing ingredient: PERSONALIZATION.

Hold up, what’s actually new here?

If you’re among the lucky (or nosy) YouTube Premium users in the US, you might’ve noticed Google’s latest AI-powered trick: search for “best wireless headphones for running” and—voilà!—AI organizes a carousel of videos, reviews, and those weirdly enthusiastic product demos into neat little previews. It’s like shopping with a robot bestie who’s read all the reviews… but somehow still doesn’t know your favorite color.

It’s smart. It’s fast. But is it… YOU?

Let’s be real: AI is fantastic at telling you what everyone else likes. But when was the last time a YouTube result showed you exactly how a pair of sneakers would look on your very own feet, with your dodgy ankle tattoo peeking out? Or revealed whether that “one size fits all” hat would actually fit your gloriously oversized head?

This, dear shopper, is the visual gap Google’s AI carousel—and almost every other platform—still leaves wide open.

The Personalization Problem No AI Carousel Can Solve (Yet)

Here’s the plot twist: even with all the algorithmic horsepower in Mountain View, Google’s AI Overviews are still giving you the same cookie-cutter answers everyone else gets.

• You get the most popular reviews, but not the most relevant for your face, space, or style.
• You get “best for small hands,” but not “best for hands shaped like mine.”
• You get endless video content, but not your content.

And in 2025, shouldn’t we expect a liiiittle more from our digital shopping assistants?

Enter XP9: The Chrome Extension That Lets YOU Star in the Amazon Photos

Let’s jump off the YouTube train for a second. Imagine if, instead of just watching someone else demo a gadget, you could see yourself using it before hitting “Buy Now.”

That’s not a sci-fi fever dream anymore. It’s literally what XP9, a Chrome extension from eXPeriential Preview 9, is doing for Amazon shoppers right now. Picture this:

• Browsing Amazon for sunglasses? Drop in your own selfie, and—bam!—you’re modeling every pair like it’s Paris Fashion Week.
• Shopping for a backpack? Insert your photo and check how it’ll look slung over your actual (possibly slouching) shoulders.
• Wondering about those dubious “fits all” wearables? Now you can see if “all” actually includes you.

It’s almost criminal that we’ve all spent years trusting static product shots and random influencer angles, when you could be starring in every photo yourself.

(Side note: If you think this is some elaborate tech fantasy, check it out for yourself on the XP9 official site. Their extension is free to download, takes two clicks to use, and will make you question every un-personalized Amazon photo ever.)

But Wait… Can’t Google or YouTube’s AI Just Do the Same?

You’d think all this generative AI firepower could whip up a personalized product preview, right? After all, if an algorithm can generate a summary of every headphone review since the dawn of time, why can’t it slap your face onto a sample pair?

Here’s the catch: Google’s latest innovations in YouTube search are about making sense of content—grouping, highlighting, summarizing. But XP9’s Chrome extension? It’s about making you the content.

• No waiting for the AI to “learn” your style. Just upload a photo.
• No wading through endless search results that almost—but not quite—fit your criteria.
• No guessing games. See it, believe it, buy (or, more importantly, don’t buy) confidently.

The Visual Shopping Revolution: You’re Not Just a Viewer, You’re the Star

As online shopping hurtles into the era of hyper-personalization, the tools making the most impact are the ones that put you in the driver’s seat—literally and visually. While Google’s AI moves are cool (and a little Jetsons-y), the future belongs to the platforms and extensions that empower you to try, preview, and play with products digitally on your own terms.

So here’s my wild prediction: In another year or two, if your digital cart doesn’t come with a virtual fitting room—or at least the option to see your pet’s face on a beach towel—are you even shopping in the future?

Ready to See Yourself in Your Next Cart Addition?

If you’re tired of being just another data point in Google’s AI carousel, maybe it’s time to take control of your own preview. Extensions like XP9 are already rewriting the rules of what’s possible in visual online shopping. Try it out, and get ready to shop like it’s 3025.

What do you think? Is Google’s AI Overviews in YouTube the revolution we’ve been promised, or are you craving even more control? Let’s hear your wildest ideas for personalized shopping in the comments below!