<P> In the ninth season , the show added a new format to the auditions in the form of the `` Golden Buzzer '' , which began to make appearances within the Got Talent franchise , since it was first introduced on Germany 's Got Talent . During auditions , each judge is allowed to use the Golden Buzzer to send an act automactically into the live shows , regardless of the opinion of the other judges ; when it was initially used , the buzzer simply saved an act from elimination . The only rule to the buzzer was that a judge could use it only once per season ; the host was later allowed to use the Golden Buzzer for an act from the eleventh season . </P>
what does hitting the golden buzzer on america 's got talent mean
to send an act automactically into the live shows