YouTube is testing AI video processing without the authors' knowledge

YouTube is experimenting with algorithms to “enhance the clarity” of uploaded videos. This happens without the creators’ knowledge and noticeably changes the look of the original video, The Atlantic reports.

Users report "overly sharp edges," a "plastic" effect, and smoothed textures. A blogger named Mr. Bravo said that his VHS-style videos look completely different after downloading. Music YouTuber Rhett Schall, who has over 700,000 subscribers, said that the algorithms make it seem like the creators are using AI to create content or even deepfakes, which undermines viewer trust.

Google explained that it uses "traditional machine learning to remove noise and blur" rather than generative AI. However, the company did not specify the term "generative", and the process itself is similar to the work of diffusion models, which are commonly used in modern AI tools for creating and enhancing images. Such technologies may partly explain the characteristic "polished" look of the processed videos.

It is not known whether the testing applies to all videos or only to a subset of the audience. Meanwhile, YouTube is actively promoting its own tools for generating short videos that allow you to automatically add effects and animations. Some users suggest that the company is trying to create a more unified look for content on the platform, gradually accustoming the audience to the "AI aesthetic."

Other platforms are conducting similar experiments: Meta is testing the creation of AI chatbots for Facebook and Instagram, TikTok has launched a section for creating videos using AI, and Snapchat offers tools for generating images based on selfies.