YouTube secretly tested AI video enhancement without notifying creators (arstechnica.com)

YouTube recently confirmed it has been secretly testing AI-powered video enhancement on uploaded content, particularly within YouTube Shorts, without informing creators or offering an opt-out. The feature aims to improve video quality by reducing blur and noise while sharpening images using traditional machine learning techniques. However, creators quickly noticed unwanted visual artifacts such as edge distortion and unnatural smoothness, sparking concerns over the undisclosed nature of the experiment. This development is significant for the AI/ML community because it highlights the growing use of AI-driven video processing at scale, but also raises ethical questions about transparency and consent in platform-led modifications. Unlike generative AI models creating new content, YouTube’s approach leverages machine learning for image enhancement, impacting creators’ original footage in subtle yet noticeable ways. The controversy underscores the need for clearer communication from tech giants when rolling out automated, AI-based features that alter user-generated media.