YouTube has been secretly using artificial intelligence (AI) to edit videos without informing users or obtaining their consent. This practice is raising concerns about the blurring of reality and the erosion of trust between creators and their audiences.
Rumors of AI-enhanced videos have been circulating on social media since June, with many users posting close-ups of unusual body parts in an attempt to identify any manipulation. YouTube has now confirmed that it has been running an experiment on select videos, using traditional machine learning technology to improve video quality.
However, experts argue that this practice is a concern, as it allows companies like YouTube to manipulate content without user input or oversight. “Machine learning is in fact a subfield of artificial intelligence,” says Samuel Wooley, a disinformation studies expert. “Using the term ‘machine learning’ is an attempt to obscure the fact that they used AI because of concerns surrounding the technology.”
As AI continues to be integrated into various media platforms, it’s essential to consider the implications of its use on our relationship with reality. The example set by YouTube raises questions about what people can trust online and whether the lack of transparency is eroding our ties to the world around us.
The trend of pre-processing content using AI before it reaches users has sparked debates about the potential consequences of this practice. “Footsteps in the sand are a great analogy,” says Jill Walker Rettberg, a professor at the University of Bergen. “You know someone made those footprints. With an analogue camera, you know something was in front of the camera because the film was exposed to light.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250822-youtube-is-using-ai-to-edit-videos-without-permission