YouTube has made good on its promise: the 'altered or synthetic content' label on videos is now happening.
But what does this mean for creators? Will AI content lose monetization? Will YouTube restrict AI-generated videos? Will it block videos with AI voices? No, it doesn't mean any of that. Today, we'll explain why. But first, let's see what these labels actually look like.
How is YouTube labeling AI-generated content?
In their latest announcement, YouTube showed us some examples of how they'll tell viewers about this stuff. For YouTube Shorts, you'll see a notice in the description and on the video screen.
And for longer videos or desktop views, it might be like the notification for paid promotions, popping up at the start. We'll know for sure in the next few weeks.
How YouTube Treats AI Content?
The first thing to keep in mind is that YouTube has its own AI tools to help creators with their work. At VidCon 2023, they announced their collaboration with the Aloud team from Google's Area 120 incubator, promising accurate translations that capture creators' voices and styles in 2024.
YouTube offers various AI tools like Dream Screen on the YouTube Create Mobile app, YouTube Create tool, AI Insights Tool, and more. It looks like YouTube is fully into AI. The key takeaway is this: YouTube doesn't dislike AI. However, it's starting to set rules on how and when it's used. Think of this as YouTube's AI regulations 1.0.1, with more to come.
What Content Should be Labeled as AI-generated on YouTube?
A new tool in Creator Studio requires creators "to disclose to viewers when realistic content—content that viewers could easily mistake for real—has been made with altered or synthetic media, including generative AI. We’re not requiring creators to disclose content that is clearly unrealistic, animated, includes special effects, or has used generative AI for production assistance."
Basically, this means that you should mark videos that could be mistaken for something real. If you’ve used AI-generated Elon Musk's face to promote an app, created a video showing realistic AI-generated landscapes, or depicted an event that never happened, you should check the “yes” box when YouTube asks you about AI in your videos.
However, if you've used AI to help with the script, optimize metadata, add automatic captions, or for productivity reasons, YouTube doesn’t require you to label such content. Similarly, if your videos are unrealistic, like cartoons, these YouTube AI labels don't apply to you. You can find the full list of what’s considered NOT AI content here.
If you need help keeping your ranking high and revenue steady after this YouTube update, message us. Our AIR Media-Tech team, as a YouTube Certified Partner, has direct access to YouTube support and can help you solve any issue.
Should You Label YouTube Videos with AI-generated voice?
When it comes to AI-generated voice in your videos, simply put, you don’t seem to fall under this new YouTube's requitements when AI voice is just used for speaking instead of you. However, if you generate the AI voice of other people and pair it with their AI avatar, it could be misleading, and you should label it. For example, if you've generated a lifelike avatar of MrBeast announcing something, it should be clear that this content is synthetic and that this is not a real MrBeast, so it should be marked.
Can YouTube Block Your AI Generated Videos?
With this new feature, creators need to be honest and clear in their responses. If you keep hiding your use of AI in your content that is misleading, you might face consequences like content removal or suspension from the YouTube Partner Program. So, dodging honesty on YouTube and searching for loopholes can cause problems for your channel. YouTube made this clear just a couple of months ago.
How to Remove the AI Label from Your YouTube Videos?
YouTube claims that it wants to protect both viewers and creators. They promised that creators would be able to appeal the “altered or synthetic content” label on their videos. So, in the next few months, creators can ask to remove AI-generated or overly fake content that mimics someone's face or voice using YouTube's privacy request process.
Overall, YouTube introduced this 'altered or synthetic content' label to inform viewers that not everything they see is real. So, don't worry too much for now. You can still explore using AI creatively in your content. To help you with that, here is a list of AI tools for content creators that you can use to boost your productivity.
To forget about troubles with frequent YouTube updates, you can always count on us. AIR Media-Tech can help clarify any issue and ensure your channel keeps growing. Have a problem? Just text us anytime.
