YouTube and AI content

We require creators to disclose AI-generated or altered content that seems realistic. Creators can make this disclosure during the upload process. Creators must disclose GenAI content that: Makes a real person appear to say or do something they didn’t do. Alters footage of a real event or place. Generates a realistic scene that didn’t actually occur. Creates music that’s the main focus of the video. This could include content that is fully or partially altered or created using AI tools.

Creators don’t need to disclose non-realistic content that’s made with AI, or edits to realistic content that are minor. Minor edits are ones that are primarily aesthetic, and don't alter the content in a way that could mislead the viewer about what actually happened." "Applying beauty filters […] Production assistance, like using generative AI tools to create or improve a video outline, script, thumbnail, title, or infographic […] Cloning one’s own voice to create voice overs or dubs

To disclose content that is AI-generated or meaningfully AI-altered, the ‘AI use’ setting is available to creators using YouTube Studio on a computer or mobile device. After a creator selects this field and uploads content, the content will be labeled as AI generated or altered for viewers." "In the Attributes section, under “AI use,” select Yes if your content meets the disclosure requirements or No if not.

Note: Creators who make a post or YouTube Short using YouTube's generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools don't need to take extra steps to disclose the use of altered or synthetic content. The tool will automatically disclose the use of AI for creators.

Music partners should disclose the use of generative AI (Gen AI) in their content to help YouTube accurately treat and label media that contains Gen AI." "Note: YouTube may use additional signals to augment partner declarations. If partners do not include any Gen AI information for a piece of content, YouTube will rely solely on those signals and may designate content as fully or partly Gen AI." "You can provide information about Gen AI use when you deliver content to YouTube through DDEX ERN 4.3.2+ or CSV delivery templates pursuant to the terms in your SRAV. If you don’t upload through DDEX or CSV and instead upload via YouTube Studio, you can mark disclosures in the attribute section of YouTube Studio." "Fully Gen AI : All content was created using Generative AI. Partly Gen AI : Part of the content was created using Generative AI. No Gen AI : No content was created using Generative AI.

To help keep viewers informed about the content they're viewing, we require creators to disclose if AI was used to edit or generate realistic content in their videos. Labels for photorealistic and meaningfully altered AI content may appear on the video player for Shorts, or directly below the video for long-form videos. For other types of AI content, the label will appear in the video's description (e.g., minor edits like beauty filters, animated characters, etc.). If a creator doesn’t disclose their use of AI, but our systems detect it, we may automatically apply a label. Creators can manage these labels in YouTube Studio, but they cannot remove them if there is a high degree of confidence it was made with AI.

YouTube may automatically apply an AI label on the video player or in the expanded description for: Content made using YouTube's GenAI tools Content that contains C2PA metadata Content that our internal systems detect is Al generated or altered

While we still require creators to manually disclose when they use realistic AI, we want to make the process more seamless and reliable. Starting in May 2026, we’re rolling out new internal signals to help identify AI-generated content. If a creator doesn’t specify whether or not they used AI, but our systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, we will now automatically apply a label.

If a creator thinks their content was incorrectly identified as AI-generated, they can update the disclosure status in YouTube Studio. However, disclosures will remain permanent in a handful of cases, including: Content created using YouTube’s own AI tools, like Veo or Dream Screen. Content containing C2PA metadata indicating they were fully generative AI.

‘Made with AI’: This indicates that a video contains content that has been meaningfully altered or synthetically generated with Gen AI tools. There are several ways that this information ends up in the ‘How this content was made’ section of the expanded description of a video." "The creator manually discloses the use of 'AI content' in the YouTube Studio workflow. When content is undisclosed, in some cases, YouTube may take action to reduce the risk of harm to viewers by proactively applying a label." "The creator uses YouTube’s generative AI tools (e.g., DreamScreen). The content contains valid Content Credentials data indicating the entire video is made with AI.

YouTube will carry forward disclosures from tools and creators available with secure Content Credentials (C2PA) 2.1 or higher that indicate the entire video was made with AI. This may include a label on the video player itself, or language in the detailed description." "Content Credential (C2PA) disclosures often include an attribution to the signing authority, which indicates the source that validated the information within the secure Content Credentials. When this is the case, you will see an ‘Info from’ attribution beneath the disclosure.

Starting today, YouTube Music is rolling out labels to make it easier to see when a song was created primarily using generative AI. For example, this includes using a generative model to create the composition and vocals. These new music labels will also expand to the main YouTube app." "When you listen to a track on YouTube Music where AI played a significant role, you’ll see a label directly on the player page." "We’re teaming up with music partners and using our own detection tools to identify AI-generated tracks, applying the same labeling principles already used across YouTube.

To disclose content that is AI-generated or meaningfully AI-altered, the ‘AI use’ setting is available to creators using YouTube Studio on a computer or mobile device. After a creator selects this field and uploads content, the content will be labeled as AI generated or altered for viewers." "In the Attributes section, under “AI use,” select Yes if your content meets the disclosure requirements or No if not.

If our systems make an error, creators will have the ability to change AI disclosure in most cases by selecting No in the AI disclosure survey under “Attributes” in YouTube Studio." "However, content made with YouTube’s AI tools, content containing C2PA metadata, or content labeled after manual review can not be adjusted.

To help keep viewers informed about the content they're viewing, we require creators to disclose if AI was used to edit or generate realistic content in their videos. Labels for photorealistic and meaningfully altered AI content may appear on the video player for Shorts, or directly below the video for long-form videos. For other types of AI content, the label will appear in the video's description (e.g., minor edits like beauty filters, animated characters, etc.). If a creator doesn’t disclose their use of AI, but our systems detect it, we may automatically apply a label. Creators can manage these labels in YouTube Studio, but they cannot remove them if there is a high degree of confidence it was made with AI.

Label on the video player for music or photorealistic AI content For AI-generated music or content that is photorealistic, a label in the video player may also appear. Label in the expanded description field Labels may appear in the expanded description for non-music AI-generated audio or AI content that is non-photorealistic or animated.

We’re moving the disclosure label for photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content to a more prominent position. For Long-form Videos: The label will now appear directly below the video player, above the description. For Shorts: The label will appear as an overlay on the video itself." "This is now the single label format for all photorealistic and meaningfully AI altered or generated content on YouTube. For content that is unrealistic, animated, or slightly altered, viewers can find this disclosure in the expanded description.

To help keep viewers informed about the content they're viewing, we require creators to disclose if AI was used to edit or generate realistic content in their videos. Labels for photorealistic and meaningfully altered AI content may appear on the video player for Shorts, or directly below the video for long-form videos. For other types of AI content, the label will appear in the video's description (e.g., minor edits like beauty filters, animated characters, etc.). If a creator doesn’t disclose their use of AI, but our systems detect it, we may automatically apply a label. Creators can manage these labels in YouTube Studio, but they cannot remove them if there is a high degree of confidence it was made with AI.

‘Made with AI’: This indicates that a video contains content that has been meaningfully altered or synthetically generated with Gen AI tools. There are several ways that this information ends up in the ‘How this content was made’ section of the expanded description of a video." "The creator manually discloses the use of 'AI content' in the YouTube Studio workflow. When content is undisclosed, in some cases, YouTube may take action to reduce the risk of harm to viewers by proactively applying a label." "The creator uses YouTube’s generative AI tools (e.g., DreamScreen). The content contains valid Content Credentials data indicating the entire video is made with AI.

That's why you’ll find the "Captured with a camera" disclosure in the “How this content was made” section in the expanded description of some videos. It signifies that the creator used specific technology to verify their video's origin and confirm its audio and visuals haven’t been altered." "For “captured with a camera” to appear in the expanded description, creators must use tools with built-in C2PA support (version 2.1 or higher) to capture their videos. This allows the tools to add special information, metadata, to the video file, confirming its authenticity. YouTube will relay the information that the content was “Captured with a camera,” and apply the disclosure when it detects this metadata. The content must also not have edits to sound or visuals.

For most videos, a label will appear in the expanded description, but for videos that touch on more sensitive topics — like health, news, elections, or finance — we’ll also show a more prominent label on the video itself." "And while we want to give our community time to adjust to the new process and features, in the future we’ll look at enforcement measures for creators who consistently choose not to disclose this information. In some cases, YouTube may add a label even when a creator hasn't disclosed it, especially if the altered or synthetic content has the potential to confuse or mislead people.

YouTube will carry forward disclosures from tools and creators available with secure Content Credentials (C2PA) 2.1 or higher that indicate the entire video was made with AI. This may include a label on the video player itself, or language in the detailed description." "Content Credential (C2PA) disclosures often include an attribution to the signing authority, which indicates the source that validated the information within the secure Content Credentials. When this is the case, you will see an ‘Info from’ attribution beneath the disclosure.

That's why you’ll find the "Captured with a camera" disclosure in the “How this content was made” section in the expanded description of some videos. It signifies that the creator used specific technology to verify their video's origin and confirm its audio and visuals haven’t been altered." "For “captured with a camera” to appear in the expanded description, creators must use tools with built-in C2PA support (version 2.1 or higher) to capture their videos. This allows the tools to add special information, metadata, to the video file, confirming its authenticity. YouTube will relay the information that the content was “Captured with a camera,” and apply the disclosure when it detects this metadata. The content must also not have edits to sound or visuals.

Edits that break the chain of provenance, or make it impossible to trace the video back to its original source. For example, if you capture an image with C2PA metadata and then save it to your phone's photo album that doesn’t support C2PA v2.1 or higher, that may break the chain of provenance." "“Captured with a camera” only appears if a creator opts to use C2PA technology during filming. If it’s missing, it doesn’t mean the content has modified audio or visuals.

The metadata that leads to a “Captured with a camera” disclosure is made by a 3rd party (for example, a camera manufacturer). This means there is some risk that someone could take a photo of another screen showing synthetic content.

Creators who make or edit a post using YouTube's generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, don't need to take extra steps to disclose the use of altered or synthetic content. The tool will automatically disclose the use of AI for creators." "AI generated content may include a valid, signed C2PA manifest. If you create content by selecting the icon and reuse or share the content you produce with a C2PA manifest on an external platform, that platform can access this metadata.

Yes, all videos generated with an avatar will have YouTube’s AI disclosure. Any video generated using this feature and downloaded or published will include visible watermarks and digital labels like SynthID and C2PA to disclose it as AI-generated content.

Creators who make or edit a post using YouTube's generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, don't need to take extra steps to disclose the use of altered or synthetic content. The tool will automatically disclose the use of AI for creators." "AI generated content may include a valid, signed C2PA manifest. If you create content by selecting the icon and reuse or share the content you produce with a C2PA manifest on an external platform, that platform can access this metadata.

YouTube may automatically apply an AI label on the video player or in the expanded description for: Content made using YouTube's GenAI tools Content that contains C2PA metadata Content that our internal systems detect is Al generated or altered

YouTube will carry forward disclosures from tools and creators available with secure Content Credentials (C2PA) 2.1 or higher that indicate the entire video was made with AI. This may include a label on the video player itself, or language in the detailed description." "Content Credential (C2PA) disclosures often include an attribution to the signing authority, which indicates the source that validated the information within the secure Content Credentials. When this is the case, you will see an ‘Info from’ attribution beneath the disclosure.

That's why you’ll find the "Captured with a camera" disclosure in the “How this content was made” section in the expanded description of some videos. It signifies that the creator used specific technology to verify their video's origin and confirm its audio and visuals haven’t been altered." "For “captured with a camera” to appear in the expanded description, creators must use tools with built-in C2PA support (version 2.1 or higher) to capture their videos. This allows the tools to add special information, metadata, to the video file, confirming its authenticity. YouTube will relay the information that the content was “Captured with a camera,” and apply the disclosure when it detects this metadata. The content must also not have edits to sound or visuals.

Edits that break the chain of provenance, or make it impossible to trace the video back to its original source. For example, if you capture an image with C2PA metadata and then save it to your phone's photo album that doesn’t support C2PA v2.1 or higher, that may break the chain of provenance." "“Captured with a camera” only appears if a creator opts to use C2PA technology during filming. If it’s missing, it doesn’t mean the content has modified audio or visuals.

Music partners should disclose the use of generative AI (Gen AI) in their content to help YouTube accurately treat and label media that contains Gen AI." "Note: YouTube may use additional signals to augment partner declarations. If partners do not include any Gen AI information for a piece of content, YouTube will rely solely on those signals and may designate content as fully or partly Gen AI." "You can provide information about Gen AI use when you deliver content to YouTube through DDEX ERN 4.3.2+ or CSV delivery templates pursuant to the terms in your SRAV. If you don’t upload through DDEX or CSV and instead upload via YouTube Studio, you can mark disclosures in the attribute section of YouTube Studio." "Fully Gen AI : All content was created using Generative AI. Partly Gen AI : Part of the content was created using Generative AI. No Gen AI : No content was created using Generative AI.

Starting today, YouTube Music is rolling out labels to make it easier to see when a song was created primarily using generative AI. For example, this includes using a generative model to create the composition and vocals. These new music labels will also expand to the main YouTube app." "When you listen to a track on YouTube Music where AI played a significant role, you’ll see a label directly on the player page." "We’re teaming up with music partners and using our own detection tools to identify AI-generated tracks, applying the same labeling principles already used across YouTube.

Note: Disclosing AI content alone won’t limit a video’s audience or impact its eligibility to earn money.

It’s important to note that a disclosure label alone does not change how a video is recommended or whether it’s eligible to earn money.

Generic or repetitive content includes content that looks like it’s made with a template, or that may feel repetitive to viewers after watching several videos in a row from the same channel." "Examples of what’s not allowed to monetize (this list is not exhaustive): […] AI-generated content made with generic or unoriginal templates giving the impression of mass production without adding the creator’s original, authentic insights or perspective

This policy refers to channels that use AI-generated personas to deliver information on sensitive topics. This includes any content that presents itself as a human expert providing advice to viewers on topics such as health, legal issues, finances, or politics. To protect viewers who may be confused or otherwise negatively impacted by this content, channels uploading this content will not be allowed to monetize.

July 15, 2025: We’re making a minor update to our “repetitious content” policy to better clarify this includes content that is repetitive or mass-produced. We are also renaming this policy from “repetitious content” to “inauthentic content.” This type of content has always been ineligible for monetization under our existing policies, where creators are rewarded for original and authentic content.

Creators who consistently choose not to disclose this information may be subject to manual application of a label, or penalties from YouTube, including removal of content or suspension from the YouTube Partner Program. Remember, we apply our Community Guidelines to all content on YouTube, including content that is AI generated or altered using AI.

If our systems make an error, creators will have the ability to change AI disclosure in most cases by selecting No in the AI disclosure survey under “Attributes” in YouTube Studio." "However, content made with YouTube’s AI tools, content containing C2PA metadata, or content labeled after manual review can not be adjusted.

While we still require creators to manually disclose when they use realistic AI, we want to make the process more seamless and reliable. Starting in May 2026, we’re rolling out new internal signals to help identify AI-generated content. If a creator doesn’t specify whether or not they used AI, but our systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, we will now automatically apply a label.

Certain types of misleading or deceptive content with serious risk of egregious harm are not allowed on YouTube. This includes certain types of misinformation that can cause real-world harm, certain types of technically manipulated content, or content interfering with democratic processes." "Manipulated content: Content that has been technically manipulated or doctored in a way that misleads users (usually beyond clips taken out of context) and may pose a serious risk of egregious harm.