Compliance problems
YouTube Short labeled as AI? Disclosure rules and how to fix it
Short answer
YouTube requires you to disclose when you use AI to meaningfully alter or generate photorealistic content. Set it in YouTube Studio under Attributes, AI use. YouTube may also add the label itself for content made with its GenAI tools, content with C2PA metadata, or content its systems detect as AI. If the label was applied by mistake, you can usually change the disclosure to No in Attributes, except for labels from YouTube's tools, C2PA metadata or manual review.
Key takeaways
- Disclosure is required for realistic AI-made or AI-altered content: a real person doing or saying something they did not, altered real footage, a realistic scene that did not happen, music as the main focus.
- The setting is Attributes, then AI use, in YouTube Studio during upload.
- Automatic labels come from YouTube's GenAI tools, C2PA metadata or detection.
- YouTube says disclosure does not limit audience or monetization; consistently not disclosing can bring penalties.
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Short has an AI label and you did not set it | YouTube applied it (its GenAI tools, C2PA metadata or detection) | Check the Studio notification (step 1) |
| Label is wrong and you want it off | Your disclosure survey or an automatic detection | Select No under AI use in Attributes (step 3) |
| Studio will not let you change it | The label came from YouTube's tools, C2PA metadata or manual review | Cannot be adjusted; re-upload a version without the AI part |
| Music generated with AI | AI music that is the main focus needs disclosure | Answer Yes in AI use (step 2) |
Fix it step by step
Read the Studio notification
If a label is applied automatically on or below the player, YouTube sends a notification in YouTube Studio. It stays until you update the disclosure survey.
Disclose when you upload
In YouTube Studio, follow the upload steps, open Attributes, and under AI use choose Yes if the content meets the disclosure rules, No if it does not.
YouTube StudioUploadAttributesAI use: Yes or No
Fix an incorrect label
Select No in the AI disclosure survey under Attributes. YouTube says this works in most cases; content made with its AI tools, containing C2PA metadata or labeled after manual review cannot be adjusted.
Know what the label looks like
Photorealistic AI content can show a label in the video player; non-photorealistic or animated content may show it in the expanded description.
What YouTube asks you to disclose
- Content that makes a real person appear to say or do something they did not do.
- Altered footage of a real event or place.
- A realistic scene that did not actually occur.
- Music that is the main focus of the video.
Realistic AI content and meaningful changes require disclosure; non-realistic or minor edits do not.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I turn on the AI label on a YouTube Short?
In YouTube Studio, during upload, under Attributes, AI use: choose Yes if your content meets the requirements.
Does the AI label affect monetization?
YouTube states that disclosing AI content will not limit a video's audience or impact its eligibility to earn money.
Can I remove an automatic AI label?
In most cases you can change the disclosure to No under Attributes. Labels from YouTube's AI tools, C2PA metadata or manual review cannot be adjusted.
What if I do not disclose?
YouTube says creators who consistently do not disclose may face a manually applied label or penalties, including content removal or suspension from the YouTube Partner Program.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Disclosing use of GenAI content (official, checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed 2026-10-06. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.