AI Disclosure for YouTube
YouTube now requires creators to disclose realistic altered or AI-generated content. Get the exact placement, wording, and label settings right the first time.
When you upload content that could look real to viewers but was meaningfully created or altered with AI, YouTube asks you to check the "altered or synthetic content" box in Creator Studio. This adds a disclosure to the expanded description, and for sensitive topics YouTube surfaces a more prominent label directly on the video player. Getting ahead of this protects your channel from trust and monetisation surprises.
Real-world examples that require disclosure
YouTube's policy is built around realism, not the mere presence of AI. A voiceover generated to sound like a real, identifiable person; a thumbnail showing a public figure in a fabricated scene; footage of a natural disaster or news event that was never actually filmed; or a product demo showing a feature the product does not really have — all of these need the altered-content toggle switched on. A stylised cartoon avatar, an AI-written script read by your own voice, or colour-graded footage does not require it because no reasonable viewer would mistake it for an unaltered recording of reality.
Common misconceptions
- "AI disclosure will tank my views" — the toggle changes the video description, not your ranking or reach; hiding realistic synthetic content that gets reported is the actual risk to your channel.
- "Only fully AI-generated videos count" — a single realistic AI-altered clip, image, or voice segment inside an otherwise normal video still triggers the requirement.
- "A hashtag in the description is enough" — YouTube expects the built-in Creator Studio disclosure setting, not just an informal tag.
- "Disclosure is optional if the content is fictional" — realism, not fictional intent, is what matters; a synthetic clip of a real person "joking" still needs labelling.
Where and how to disclose in practice
Open Creator Studio before publishing, go to the "Show more" details panel, and toggle "Altered or synthetic content" on for any upload meeting the criteria above. Pair that with one sentence at the very top of your description so viewers scanning quickly still see it, and add a short spoken disclosure in the first 10–15 seconds for fully synthetic voices or faces. YouTube's synthetic media policy sits alongside its Community Guidelines, so repeated non-disclosure on sensitive topics can also trigger manual review, not just an automatic label.
Current rules for YouTube videos
- Check the "Altered content" toggle in YouTube Studio when your video shows realistic AI-generated people, places, or events.
- Add a plain-language disclosure line to your video description and, for fully synthetic clips, a spoken note in the opening seconds.
- You do not need to flag clearly unrealistic, animated, or productivity edits (colour, audio clean-up, blur).
- For sensitive subjects (news, health, elections, finance) YouTube shows a prominent on-video label, so wording accuracy matters.
Example disclosures
This video contains AI-generated visuals and voice. It was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by a human before publishing.
Quick heads up — parts of this video were generated using AI.
Generate a disclosure for YouTube videos
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
Do all YouTube videos need an AI disclosure?
No. Only content that realistically depicts people, places, or events that did not happen. Purely fictional, animated, or lightly edited videos are exempt.
Where does the YouTube AI label appear?
For most videos it appears in the expanded description. For sensitive topics YouTube adds a more prominent label on the video player itself.
Will disclosing AI hurt my monetisation?
Disclosing correctly does not demonetise you. Failing to disclose realistic synthetic content is the bigger risk to your standing.
Do I need a spoken disclosure too?
For fully AI-generated or realistic synthetic video, a short spoken note in the opening seconds plus the description flag is safest.
What happens if I forget to toggle the setting?
You can edit video details after publishing to add the disclosure retroactively; do it as soon as you notice, since repeated omissions on sensitive content can prompt manual review.
Does using an AI thumbnail need disclosure?
Only if the thumbnail realistically depicts a fabricated scene, person, or event — a stylised or clearly graphic thumbnail typically does not.