YouTube is implementing significant changes to how artificial intelligence content is disclosed on its platform, aiming to make AI labeling more visible and automated. Beginning this month, the company will relocate AI disclosure labels from hidden sections of video descriptions to prominent positions where viewers can see them immediately. For standard long-form videos, the label identifying the content as AI will appear directly below the video player, just above the description. Previously, this information was buried within the "How this content was made" section, requiring users to actively click through to verify a video's origins. For YouTube Shorts, the platform will utilize an overlay label directly on the video screen. This follows earlier tests of similar indicators for altered or synthetic content. The new system establishes a single label format for photorealistic content and material meaningfully altered by AI. In cases where videos are animated, unrealistic, or only slightly modified, the disclosure will remain available in the expanded description, as these types of content are harder to flag automatically. Beyond visibility, YouTube is enhancing its internal detection capabilities to automatically identify and label AI-generated content. The platform plans to deploy new internal signals soon to assist in this process. While creators are still required to manually disclose the use of photorealistic AI tools, YouTube will now automatically apply a label if its systems detect significant photorealistic AI usage and the creator fails to provide a manual disclosure. Creators retain the ability to update disclosure statuses through YouTube Studio if they believe a video has been incorrectly flagged. However, disclosures will be permanent in specific instances, such as when creators use YouTube's own AI tools like Veo or Dream Screen, or when the content contains C2PA metadata indicating full AI generation. YouTube already utilizes detection technologies such as Google's SynthID and C2PA standards to identify synthetic media, but this update represents a stronger commitment to flagging content that mimics real humans and environments. YouTube stated that these updates are designed to provide viewers with necessary context at a glance. The company emphasized that the introduction of these labels will not negatively impact creator monetization or the platform's recommendation algorithms. The primary goal remains ensuring that creators and viewers have access to accurate information regarding the nature of the content being consumed. These measures aim to address previous inconsistencies in labeling practices and establish a more standardized approach to transparency regarding AI-generated media across the platform.