vidIQ
May 28, 2026
YouTube's New AI Content Labeling System Explained
TL;DR
YouTube is making AI-generated content labels more visible by displaying them directly below video players for long-form videos and as overlays on Shorts, plus automatically flagging photorealistic AI content that creators fail to disclose.
Key Takeaways
- 1AI content labels now appear prominently below the video player for long-form videos and as overlays on Shorts, instead of hidden in the description
- 2YouTube will automatically detect and label photorealistic AI content even if creators don't disclose it, with an option for creators to appeal false flags
- 3AI labels do not impact video recommendations or monetization, only viewer perception and transparency
- 4Labels are mandatory for photorealistic AI and YouTube's own AI tools (Dream Screen, VO3), but animated or obviously AI content can still be disclosed in the expanded description
- 5This update represents a shift from voluntary disclosure to a more transparent, platform-enforced approach to AI content transparency
Notable Quotes
“Starting today, YouTube is streamlining how AI labels work to make them even more intuitive for everyone.”
— YouTube
“If YouTube systems detect significant photorealistic AI, and it hasn't been disclosed, we'll now apply that label automatically.”
— YouTube
“YouTube is no longer tip-toeing around the subject. They're no longer calling it altered or synthetic content. Now, YouTube is quite rightly labeling these videos as AI generated.”
— Rob
“These labels do not impact how the video is recommended or whether or not you earn revenue from them.”
— YouTube
Chapters
1. The Problem with Previous AI Labeling
YouTube previously required creators to manually disclose AI content through a checkbox, but the label appeared only in the video description where viewers rarely saw it.
2. New Prominent Label Placement
Starting immediately, AI labels appear directly below the video player for long-form videos and as overlays on Shorts, making them visible before watching.
3. Automatic Detection of Undisclosed AI
YouTube's systems will now automatically apply AI labels to videos with photorealistic AI that creators failed to disclose themselves.
4. Creator Appeal Process and Exceptions
Creators can dispute incorrect AI labels in YouTube Studio, but labels applied to YouTube's own AI tools or file metadata cannot be removed.
5. Impact on Monetization and Recommendations
YouTube explicitly states that AI labels do not affect video recommendations or creator revenue, only viewer perception of authenticity.
6. Gray Areas and Future Possibilities
YouTube's policy distinguishes between photorealistic AI (requiring prominent disclosure) and obviously animated or altered content (which can be disclosed in descriptions), leaving room for interpretation of what qualifies as each.
Key People & Entities
- Rob
- Video creator and narrator discussing YouTube's AI labeling update
- vidIQ
- Video optimization tool platform offering upload assistance and thumbnail generation features
Glossary
- Photorealistic AI
- AI-generated content that closely mimics real, human-like imagery or video, as opposed to obviously animated or clearly artificial content
- Altered and synthetic content
- YouTube's previous terminology for AI-generated or manipulated video content requiring disclosure
- Dream Screen
- YouTube's proprietary AI tool for generating video backgrounds and visual effects
- VO3
- YouTube's AI-powered voice generation tool for creating synthetic voiceovers
- Metadata
- Embedded information in a video file that identifies technical details about how it was created