YouTube Creator Studio gets new label to flag AI generated or altered content

To combat misinformation and make viewers aware if the content they are seeing has been altered or generated synthetically, YouTube decided that creators will have to disclose if they are using media generated by generative AI. Now, the company has introduced a new tool in Creator Studio that helps content creators disclose content that is “unrealistic, animated, includes special effects, or has used generative AI for production assistance.”

In a blog post, YouTube says these disclosures will now appear as labels in the expanded video description, but when it comes to sensitive topics like news, elections, finance or health, these labels will be visible on the video itself. Creators will have to disclose when they are using AI-generated media if the video uses the likeness of a realistic person, altered footage of real events or places and if it has realistic-looking scenes that were made using AI-powered tools.

These labels will first appear on the mobile app. (Image Source: YouTube)

However, it doesn’t apply to all AI-modified or generated content. For example, if creators use AI for productivity purposes like writing scripts, adding captions, adjusting colour or adding filters, special effects or other visual enhancements, they don’t need to use the label.

In case the creator fails to disclose if a video contains altered or synthetic content, YouTube might automatically add a label, especially when the topic “has the potential to confuse or mislead people.” The company says these labels will be first visible on the YouTube app, and will eventually expand to the website and TV app in the coming weeks.