YouTube launches AI upscaling for low-res videos

YouTube announced Tuesday it will automatically use artificial intelligence to enhance low-resolution videos with its new "Super Resolution" feature, addressing a contentious issue that sparked creator backlash earlier this year. The Google-owned platform will begin upscaling videos uploaded below 1080p to HD quality, with plans to support 4K resolution "in the near future".​

The announcement comes as YouTube continues its dominance in TV viewing, with channels earning six-figure revenues from TV screens increasing by 45% over the past year. The platform now commands the largest share of TV viewing among media companies for three consecutive months, representing 12.4% of audiences' total television time.

Creators Gain Control After Earlier Controversy The Super Resolution feature directly responds to months of creator complaints about YouTube secretly applying AI enhancements without permission. Earlier this year, content creators like music YouTuber Rick Beato and guitarist Rhett Shull noticed their videos appeared artificially enhanced, with facial features appearing smoothed or overly sharpened.​

"I've been creating videos for a long time and invest considerable effort into achieving a specific look with lighting and color grading," Shull told NBC News in August. YouTube initially defended the practice as using "traditional machine learning" rather than generative AI, but creators argued the platform was still altering their content without consent.​

Now, YouTube says both creators and viewers can opt out of the automatic upscaling. "Creators will retain complete control over their library, as both original files and original video resolution will be kept intact, with a clear option to opt-out of these enhancements," the company stated. Viewers can also watch videos in their original uploaded resolution, with AI-enhanced versions clearly labeled as "Super Resolution" in settings.