YouTube announces new policies to ensure responsible use of AI

The video platform recently announced a new approach to “responsible AI innovation” after Bad Bunny criticized a reggaeton song that used an AI system to emulate his voice. The song called Nostalgia, created by the user “FlowGPT”, dedicated to creating audio tracks with AI systems, had a great worldwide impact and has brought back to the table the risks underlying the use of generative AI.

Although YouTube considers generative AI to be an element capable of transforming the experience of viewers and video creators on the platform, it believes it crucial to balance the opportunities offered by AI systems and their responsibility to protect the user community.

Along the same lines, YouTube has added that content uploaded to the platform must comply with its policies and terms, regardless of the generation method. To alleviate this situation, it proposes introducing disclosure requirements, new content tags and updates that will inform users when they are viewing content created with AI systems. In a practical way, two tags will be added: one in the description that indicates if the video, or part of it, was digitally altered and another more visible on the player itself when dealing with issues of greater sensitivity, such as elections; current conflicts; public health crises or actions of public figures.

Finally, two new options will be implemented aimed at content creators, focused on the ability to request the removal of AI-generated content when it represents an identifiable individual and the possibility for musical artists to request the removal of AI-generated content that mimics their style or voice.