YouTube to automatically label AI-generated videos
Recorded: May 27, 2026, 10:03 p.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Improving AI labels for viewers and creators Skip to Main Content News & Events Creator & Artist Stories Culture & Trends Inside YouTube Made On YouTube Feed Topics Subscribe Submit Search Search Input Search with AI Subscribe Suggested Searches What specific tools does YouTube offer creators? Neal Mohan What are the latest AI features on YouTube? Topics Featured Executives From the CEO: What’s coming to YouTube in 2026 Explore topics Live Improving AI labels for viewers and creators Copy link Copy link Submit Search Search Input Search with AI News and Events Improving AI labels for viewers and creators By The YouTube Team May 27, 2026 Share Copy link Copy link We've heard consistently from our community that they value transparency when it comes to generative AI content. That’s why since 2024, we've been labeling content when creators disclose they've used AI tools.We've learned in that time about what people find useful when it comes to AI disclosures, and today we're making two updates that we think will make this process much simpler and more intuitive for creators and viewers on YouTube. Simplified AI Labels & Auto-Detection: What You Need to Know More visible, simplified labelsWe’re moving the disclosure label for photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content to a more prominent position.For Long-form Videos: The label will now appear directly below the video player, above the description.For Shorts: The label will appear as an overlay on the video itself.By moving these labels on to the main stage, viewers get the context they need at a glance. This is now the single label format for all photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content on YouTube.For content that is unrealistic, animated, or slightly altered, viewers can find this disclosure in the expanded description. AI usage disclosure at video upload time. Introducing automatic AI detectionWhile we still require creators to manually disclose when they use realistic AI, we want to make the process more seamless and reliable. Starting in May 2026, we’re rolling out new internal signals to help identify AI-generated content.If a creator doesn’t specify whether or not they used AI, but our systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, we will now automatically apply a label.As this technology continues to improve, creators remain in control. If a creator thinks their content was incorrectly identified as AI-generated, they can update the disclosure status in YouTube Studio. However, disclosures will remain permanent in a handful of cases, including:Content created using YouTube’s own AI tools, like Veo or Dream Screen.Content containing C2PA metadata indicating they were fully generative AI. Our commitment to responsibilityThese changes are designed to balance transparency with creator control. It’s important to note that a disclosure label alone does not change how a video is recommended or whether it’s eligible to earn money. In a world where AI is changing what’s possible, our goal is simple: make it as easy as possible for creators and viewers to have the right information. Policy Creators AI Want more from The YouTube Blog? Join our newsletter! Subscribe Explore the latest company news, creator and artist profiles, culture and trends analyses, and behind-the-scenes insights on the YouTube Official Blog. Our Channels Toggle YouTube YouTube Creators Creator Insider TeamYouTube [Help] YouTube Liaison X (Twitter) Toggle YouTube YouTube Liaison YouTube Creators TeamYouTube YouTube Gaming YouTube TV YouTube Music YouTubeInsider Connect About YouTube Toggle About Press Jobs How YouTube Works YouTube Culture & Trends Community Forum YouTube Products Toggle YouTube Kids YouTube Music YouTube Originals YouTube Premium YouTube TV For Business Toggle Advertising Developers For Creators Toggle Artists Creators Creator Academy Creating for Kids Creators Research Creators Services Directory YouTube VR Our Commitments Toggle Creators for Change CSAI Match Social Impact Policy & Safety Copyright Brand Guidelines Privacy Terms Help Deutsch English Español (Latinoamérica) Français (France) 日本語 (日本) 한국어 Português (Brasil) Please check your network connection and Join our newsletter to receive the latest news, trends, and features straight to your inbox! Your information will be used in accordance with Google's privacy policy. You may opt out at any time. Let's get contenting! You'll receive a confirmation soon. |
The YouTube Team has introduced updates to the system for labeling content involving generative artificial intelligence, aiming to enhance transparency for both viewers and creators, following community feedback regarding the use of AI in content creation. Since 2024, YouTube has implemented a disclosure system for content where creators explicitly state their use of AI tools. The recent updates focus on simplifying this disclosure and introducing automatic detection mechanisms. Regarding visible labels, the changes move the disclosure label for photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content to a more prominent position. For long-form videos, this label will now appear directly below the video player, situated above the description. For YouTube Shorts, the label will appear as an overlay directly on the video itself. This change establishes a single label format for all photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content across the platform, allowing viewers to gain necessary context at a glance. Content that is less realistic, animated, or slightly altered will continue to have its disclosure available within the expanded description. In addition to these visual updates, YouTube is rolling out automatic AI detection starting in May 2026. While creators are still required to manually disclose their use of realistic AI, the system will now utilize internal signals to automatically apply a label if the systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, even when no manual disclosure is made. Creators retain control over this process; if a creator believes an automated identification is incorrect, they have the ability to update the disclosure status within YouTube Studio. Certain types of content will maintain permanent disclosure status, including content created using YouTube’s own AI tools, such as Veo or Dream Screen, and content containing C2PA metadata indicating they are fully generative AI. The overarching commitment behind these changes is to balance transparency with creator control. The team emphasizes that the presence of a disclosure label does not influence how a video is recommended or its eligibility for monetization. The primary objective is to ensure that creators and viewers have access to accurate information in an evolving environment shaped by artificial intelligence. |