YouTube is introducing automated labeling for photorealistic AI-generated content and increasing the visibility of disclosure notices across long-form videos and Shorts to improve transparency for its global audience.

Key Points

• YouTube will automatically apply AI labels to videos if its internal systems detect significant use of photorealistic generative technology.
• Disclosure labels for long-form videos will move from the expanded description to a prominent position directly below the video player.
• AI labels for YouTube Shorts will now appear as a direct overlay on the video content for immediate viewer awareness.
• Creators can manually adjust disclosure statuses in YouTube Studio, though labels remain permanent for content using native tools like Veo or C2PA metadata.
• YouTube confirmed that these transparency labels do not impact video recommendations or creator monetization eligibility on the platform.

Why it Matters

These updates address growing concerns regarding misinformation by providing viewers with immediate context about the authenticity of the media they consume. By standardizing disclosure practices, YouTube aims to balance creator autonomy with the need for digital transparency in an era of increasingly realistic synthetic media.