YouTube launches Super Resolution AI upscaling

YouTube has introduced “Super Resolution,” an AI upscaling feature that automatically generates higher-resolution versions of videos uploaded below 1080p, initially focused on TV and other large-screen devices, with a stated goal of supporting up to 4K. The company says the feature will roll out gradually across devices and platforms; enhanced videos will be clearly labeled in playback settings so viewers can switch between the AI-upscaled version and the original. Creators retain their original files and resolutions and can opt out of the enhancement, and YouTube emphasized opt-out and labeling controls amid concern about automated visual changes. The launch is part of a broader TV-focused update that expands thumbnail upload limits from 2MB to 50MB, adds immersive homepage previews, improves in-channel search, experiments with larger original uploads, and introduces shopping tools such as QR codes and timed product links. Some creators and critics warn AI upscaling is not equivalent to manual remastering and can produce uneven or artificial results.