YouTube To Start Labeling AI-Generated Content In Videos

AI is growing and advancing every day. So, YouTube is taking some precautions. The platform is concerned that users will mistake AI-generated content for legitimate content. In November, the platform announced plans to implement a disclosure system for AI-generated content that mimics reality. This content is referred to as "synthetic" or "altered material" that involves real footage modified through AI techniques. Later, the platform launched a new tool in its Creator Studio that lets users add a label that marks content as created using AI. The label appears as a simple yes or no checkbox under a sub-head reading “Altered content.”

The platform aims to "strengthen transparency" with viewers and "build trust between creators and their audience" through the new label. They offered some examples of content that requires disclosure. Using the likeness of a realistic person. This involves digitally altering content to replace one individual's face with another's or generating a synthetic voice to narrate a video. Altering footage of real events or places. Examples include making it seem like a real building is on fire or changing a real cityscape to appear differently. And generating realistic scenes. This entails depicting fictional major events realistically, such as showing a tornado approaching a real town.

AI videos that are obviously generated won’t require labels and the platform is seemingly counting on creators using their own discretion when applying the label.

For example, they stated that users won't need to flag AI-generated content utilized for tasks like script or caption generation. This disclosure feature primarily pertains to the visual aspects of content. Additionally, YouTube emphasized that it "won't mandate creators to disclose when synthetic media is unrealistic and/or the alterations are inconsequential."

Labels will start rolling out across all YouTube surfaces and formats in the weeks ahead, beginning with the YouTube app on phones, and soon on desktop and TV.

The platform also said, "And while we want to give our community time to adjust to the new process and features, in the future we'll look at enforcement measures for creators who consistently choose not to disclose this information." They added, "In some cases, YouTube may add a label even when a creator hasn't disclosed it, especially if the altered or synthetic content has the potential to confuse or mislead people."