YouTube will start automatically tagging videos using artificial intelligence. The labels will become more visible for photorealistic videos - in long videos below the player, and in Shorts - directly on the video. Authors will be able to adjust the status if the system makes a mistake.
Briefly about the main points
- YouTube will automatically detect AI videos starting from May 2026.
- Labels for photo-realistic AI videos will appear below the player or on Shorts.
- Authors may correct the designation if they believe it to be incorrect.
- Tags do not affect video recommendations or monetisation.
Automatic AI content recognition system on YouTube
From May 2026 YouTube launches automatic labelling of videos created using artificial intelligence. Previously, labelling was only initiated by the authors, but now the platform implements internal algorithms that detect significant photorealistic AI content and automatically add the appropriate label.
If the creator does not provide information about the use of AI, the system will mark such videos by itself. At the same time, creators will be able to change the flagging status in YouTube Studio if they believe that the video has been misidentified. The only exception is content created using YouTube's own AI tools or with C2PA metadata, where the mark will remain unchanged.
Changes to the display of tags for viewers
For photorealistic or significantly altered AI videos, the labels will become more visible. In long videos, the label will appear directly below the video player, above the description, and in Shorts, it will be superimposed directly on the video. This will help viewers quickly get information about the use of artificial intelligence.
For animated, unrealistic or slightly modified AI content, the label will remain in the video description. This approach takes into account the different formats and levels of changes that artificial intelligence makes to videos.
The role of transparency in the context of AI on YouTube
YouTube emphasises that these changes are aimed at increasing transparency for viewers and simplifying the process for creators. From now on, labelling of AI content will become more intuitive and unambiguous, which meets the expectations of the community.
At the same time, the platform emphasises that the presence of a tag does not change the recommendation algorithms or the possibility of monetising videos. This is important to maintain a balance between transparency and freedom of creativity.
Technological development and future prospects
The introduction of automatic AI content recognition demonstrates the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the digital media space. The platform will continue to improve its systems for more accurate identification and labelling to provide the best possible experience for users.
This move is also in line with the global trends of AI regulation and information transparency that are gaining momentum in the media industry and technology companies.
