YouTube is going to leverage artificial intelligence to automatically improve poor-quality videos, according to a new “Super Resolution” feature revealed today.
The update is one of the site’s most ambitious applications of AI to date and promises to make older or low-res uploads appear sharper without needing creators to re-upload their content.
YouTube Upcoming Enhancements
In a new blog entry, YouTube described a number of upcoming enhancements throughout its platform. These are “immersive” homepage previews on smart TVs, enhanced search within individual channels, and enhanced shopping by way of new QR codes appearing on videos with product links. But the real showstopper announcement is clearly Super Resolution, YouTube’s AI upscaling technology.
What New YouTube Feature Can the Public Toggle?
The feature, which automatically creates and upgrades itself into higher-resolution versions of videos that were originally uploaded at less than 1080p, aims to provide support for up to 4K resolutions, essentially letting HD, or even UHD, quality be applied to standard-definition videos.
When a video has been upgraded, it will have a “Super Resolution” tag in the settings menu, where viewers can toggle between the AI-upscaled version and the original upload.
Significantly, YouTube has also clarified that creators will get full authority over their content. The site will maintain original files and resolutions, and creators are free to opt out of AI upscaling if they wish.
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YouTube Official Statement
In its statement, YouTube explained, “We’re starting with videos uploaded below 1080p, upscaling them from SD to HD, with the goal to support resolutions up to 4K in the near future.
Creators will retain complete control over their library, as both original files and original video resolution will be kept intact, with a clear option to opt out.”
With Super Resolution, YouTube is joining an expanding slate of platforms leveraging AI to upgrade previous media.
The feature may enhance viewing experiences for older content without requiring extra effort or re-editing, and it can assist creators in producing consistent visual quality throughout their collections.
