YouTube recently sparked controversy among content creators after admitting to using algorithmic processing on videos without informing the creators beforehand. The platform was conducting tests to improve the visual quality of Shorts clips by applying techniques to reduce blur and digital noise.
These methods are similar to those used by modern smartphones when optimizing photos, and according to the company, the goal was to enhance the viewing experience on smaller screens. However, the changes were made automatically, without the creators’ knowledge or consent.
Well-known vloggers, such as Rick Beato and Rhett Shull, began to notice that their videos looked different — with sharper details but also unnatural effects that disrupted the original style. These interventions raised concerns about potentially compromising the authenticity of the content.
YouTube states that this is not the use of generative artificial intelligence or AI upscaling but rather an internal experiment with standard machine learning techniques. Nevertheless, many creators expressed dissatisfaction because the modifications were made without transparency.
In response to the criticism, the company announced plans to introduce an option allowing creators to opt out of this type of processing. However, many users feel that trust has already been damaged since the changes were implemented without creators’ control.