YouTube to employ AI for enhanced video quality
YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, is set to revolutionize the viewing experience for millions of users by employing artificial intelligence to enhance the visual clarity of lower-resolution videos. This innovative feature, known as upscaling, will be initially applied to videos with resolutions below 1080p, as announced by Kurt Wilms, a senior product director at YouTube, on October 29th.
The upscaling process will not only enhance the quality to 4K but also ensure that the original files remain intact. Users have the option to opt-out of the 'super resolution' feature if they prefer the original video quality. Videos with enhanced resolution will be clearly labeled, allowing viewers to easily switch between the original and upscaled versions.
This initiative is particularly beneficial for users streaming videos on large-screen TVs, which are increasingly popular. Additionally, it will improve the viewing experience on larger smartphones and foldable devices. YouTube's decision to upscale videos addresses a significant issue: many older clips uploaded before the widespread adoption of ultra-high definition (UHD) are limited to standard definition (480p) or even lower resolutions.
YouTube is also expanding the file size limit for video thumbnails from 2MB to 50MB, enabling more detailed and visually appealing thumbnails on TV screens. Furthermore, the company is testing larger video uploads with select creators, aiming to provide even higher fidelity and compete with streaming giants like Netflix.
This move comes after YouTube faced criticism from creators when it quietly used machine learning to enhance the clarity of Shorts, its short-form video content. YouTube clarified that no upscaling was involved in that instance, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and user control.
