Many people turn to AI to improve their writing, photography, or video. YouTube They do the same thing, quietly reinforcing the appearance of users' uploaded videos artificial intelligence.
So, what is the problem? Many creators aren't as upset as the videos are “enhanced” (although there's debate as to whether what YouTube has done is actually considered an improvement), but this is what was done without consent.
This is nothing new. YouTube creators complain about the appearance that the uploaded video has been changed, as if they haven't done anything for quite some time. For months there was debate over whether the video was hit with the AI dose. And now, Google is making sure people's doubts are correct, and this is exactly what's happening.
The theory has cycled through some form of AI-driven upscaling being used in videos, but YouTube claims that it is not. However, the difference between user horror and the claimed reality of YouTube is rather subtle.
YOI Enhancement YouTube
Rhett Shull posted a video examining the issue and introduced it by saying:
Does YouTube secretly apply AI filters to shorts without telling creators? I recently noticed that my videos appear to be strange and painted on YouTube compared to Instagram. In this video we'll investigate what's going on and why we think it's a big problem for everyone on this platform.
After talking to Rick Beato and seeing a discussion on Reddit about the same “oil painting” effect on videos from creators like Hank Green, it's clear that it's being applied to the content. For me, this is a big problem that could erode the most important thing the creator has: the trust of the audience.
You can check the video here:
The problem feels a little complicated. It's safe to say that nothing is happening, but the lack of transparency is a concern. Yes, YouTube is probably “enhancing” the video with good intentions, but that's not really the point.
What's important here is the fact that people's videos have been changed with notifications of all formats.
YouTube responded to user complaints by saying:
There is no genai or upscaling. Using traditional machine learning technology for Unblur, denoise, we are running experiments on YouTube shorts that improve video clarity during processing (as is what modern smartphones do when recording videos) YouTube is always working on how to deliver the best video quality and experience, considering creator and audience feedback and continuing to improve these features
Google is just one of the companies that pushes AI from its own brand. This is not a normal problem. However, this is different when exposed to artificial intelligence without being told that this is happening. Also, if AI is used to change user content without consent – even if tweaks are intended properly.
Not only does it undermine Google's trust, it also has the issue of impact on creators. Many people take pride in avoiding AI in their own work, but so many viewers have been accused by creators of “liing” about not using AI because they have enhanced their video with AI. This undermines trust in individual creators, and the responsibility lies firmly on Google for this.
It's another concern that the company appears to be indifferent to the level of agitation this caused – but what do you think about it?
Image credits: bilalulker / dositpotos
