Hello! Yes, YouTube does see hashtags in your video description as keywords, and they can help increase the visibility of your videos in search results and related videos. However, it's important to use hashtags in moderation and relevance to the video's content, and avoid "keyword stuffing," which can hurt your video's visibility and engagement.
YouTube recommends using 1-3 relevant hashtags per video, and placing them at the end of your video description. Make sure to use popular and specific hashtags that accurately describe your video's topic or theme, and avoid using irrelevant or overly broad hashtags that won't attract the right audience.