YouTube secretly uses AI to alter creators' videos without consent
YouTube secretly uses AI to alter creators' videos without consent
Occurred: August 2025
Page published: September 2025
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YouTube secretly experimented with artificial intelligence to enhance and alter videos without informing creators or obtaining their consent, raising concerns about transparency and trust.
YouTube quietly experimented with AI to enhance and alter videos, particularly YouTube Shorts, without informing creators or obtaining their consent.ย
These AI-powered modifications included subtle changes such as sharper details, smoother skin textures, and enhanced video clarity, which some creators found unnatural and worrying for audience trust.
The experiment aimed to improve video quality using "traditional machine learning" to reduce blur and noise, not generative AI, according to YouTube.ย
However, the lack of transparency and opt-out provisions caused a widespread backlash from creators who felt their original content had been manipulated without permission.
These undisclosed alterations raise broader questions about digital rights, the authenticity of online content, and potential erosion of trust between creators and viewers.
For creators, these changes mean a loss of control over their work and concerns about misrepresentation. For society, it highlights the growing influence of AI in shaping reality and the need for clear policies and accountability in AI's role in digital media.
This incident underscores the risks when platforms alter user-generated content without clear communication, threatening trust and transparency in the digital ecosystem.
Developer: Google
Country: Global
Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts
Purpose: Improve video quality
Technology: Machine learning
Issue: Mis/disinformation; Transparency