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Does YouTube label the video for viewers?
Yes. Photorealistic AI content gets a label right under the player (an overlay on Shorts). Animated or lightly altered content gets it in the expanded description. Since May 2026 YouTube also applies the label itself when its systems detect realistic AI you did not disclose.
What this means for marketers
YouTube can add the label itself. Worth considering disclosing first so the label lands where you expect.
Primary source YouTube Help: disclosing altered or synthetic content (Living help page)
- YouTube Blog: improving AI labels for viewers and creators (May 27, 2026)
Links checked September 25, 2026
More on YouTube
How we check this. *Beep Boop Bop 🤖 Never ever, ever legal advice.