YouTube Faces Backlash Over Undisclosed AI Edits to Shorts Videos

YouTube has ignited a firestorm among content creators after confirming the undisclosed use of artificial intelligence to alter videos on its Shorts platform. Musicians Rick Beato and Rhett Shull reported distorted visuals in their uploads, ranging from unnaturally smooth skin textures to warped facial features—changes implemented without consent or notification.

The platform admitted to testing AI-driven enhancements like unblurring, denoising, and sharpening, comparing the features to smartphone camera filters. Yet unlike devices where users opt in, YouTube deployed these modifications automatically. This lack of transparency risks eroding trust in digital content at a time when skepticism toward media is already rampant.

Industry experts warn such practices concentrate power in platforms rather than creators, setting dangerous precedents for content authenticity. The controversy highlights growing tensions between technological convenience and creative control in the algorithmic age.