YouTube will begin automatically labelling videos created with realistic AI-generated visuals, expanding a policy that previously relied mainly on creators to disclose such content themselves.
The company said it will start using internal detection systems from May 2026 to identify videos containing what it described as “significant photorealistic AI” content.
When creators fail to disclose that material, YouTube will now add the label automatically.
The update also changes where viewers see those warnings. Instead of hiding them inside video descriptions, YouTube will place labels directly below long-form videos and over Shorts, making them easier to spot.
YouTube has required creators since 2024 to disclose content made with AI tools when videos could realistically be mistaken for real people, places or events. However, content that was clearly fictional, animated or unrealistic did not need the same treatment.
Now, the company says it wants a more reliable system as AI video tools become harder to distinguish from real footage.
“We’ve heard consistently from our community that they value transparency when it comes to generative AI content,” YouTube said.
“That’s why since 2024, we’ve been labeling content when creators disclose they’ve used AI tools.”
The platform said the policy itself has not changed, but enforcement is becoming more active as AI-generated video quality improves.
The announcement follows the launch of Google’s Gemini Omni models at the company’s developer conference last week. Google said the models can generate highly realistic videos while showing an understanding of subjects including physics, science, history and culture.
Under the new system, creators will still be expected to disclose AI-generated content themselves. However, YouTube explained it will step in when its systems detect realistic AI content that has not been labelled.
“If a creator doesn’t specify whether or not they used AI, but our systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, we will now automatically apply a label,” the company said.
Creators who believe their content was wrongly flagged will be able to update the disclosure status through YouTube Studio. Still, YouTube said labels will remain permanent in some situations.
That includes videos produced using YouTube’s own AI tools such as Veo and Dream Screen. The same applies to videos carrying C2PA metadata showing they were fully generated with AI systems.
C2PA is an industry standard designed to help identify AI-generated and digitally altered media. Companies including OpenAI, Nvidia, Kakao and Eleven Labs have backed the standard in recent months.
YouTube is also changing how labels appear across the platform.
For long-form videos, labels will now be directly below the video player and above the description section. On Shorts, viewers will see them as overlays on the video itself.
The company said labels for unrealistic or lightly edited AI content will still appear only inside the expanded description section.
“By moving these labels on to the main stage, viewers get the context they need at a glance,” YouTube said.
The changes align with YouTube’s expansion of other tools aimed at detecting manipulated content. The company recently increased access to its AI deepfake detection system, allowing adults to scan the platform for videos that may contain their likeness.
At the same time, YouTube continues adding AI features across its services, including AI-generated video summaries, playlist tools for YouTube Music, interactive search functions and creation tools for creators.
Despite the labelling system, YouTube said the presence of an AI label will not affect recommendations or whether creators can make money from their videos.
“It’s important to note that a disclosure label alone does not change how a video is recommended or whether it’s eligible to earn money,” the company said.
