YouTube is shifting from voluntary creator disclosure to automatic detection and labelling of AI-generated video content. Starting May 2026, labels will move to more prominent positions — below the video player for long-form content and as overlays on Shorts. Labels will be permanent for videos made with YouTube's own AI tools (Veo, Gemini Omni, Dream Screen) or verified via C2PA metadata and SynthID watermarks. Deepfake removal protections are also expanding to all adults. The changes come ahead of the EU AI Act's August 2026 transparency requirements. AI-labelled videos will not be penalised in recommendations or lose monetisation access — the labels are purely informational.
