YouTube Unleashes AI-Powered Surveillance on Creators, Claims it’s for their "Own Good"
In a move that’s being hailed as a revolution in creativity, YouTube announced a slew of new AI-powered tools for creators, but some are questioning whether these features are actually beneficial or just another way for the platform to exert control over its users.
CEO Neal Mohan took to the stage at Made on YouTube to unveil the new tools, which include Veo, an AI-powered video generator that can produce six-second clips for YouTube Shorts, the platform’s TikTok competitor. The tool uses Google’s DeepMind technology and can be controlled with text prompts. But some are worried about the potential for AI-generated content to replace human creativity and talent.
"We want to support creators at every step of the journey," Mohan said, without addressing the concerns about job displacement.
The Inspiration tab is another new feature that uses AI to generate video ideas, titles, and thumbnails. But users will have no opt-out option for their comments being incorporated into the AI-generated content. This has raised red flags about privacy and intellectual property.
"We want to make the creative process easier," said Johanna Voolich, YouTube’s chief of product. "But we also want to make sure that creators have control over their content and their audience."
The announcement comes on the heels of other platforms launching AI-powered video abilities, including OpenAI’s Sora. But YouTube’s approach seems to be more focused on surveillance and control, with features like the Inspiration tab and Communities, which allow creators to post directly to their audiences and viewers to post their own photos and text posts.
"This is just another way for YouTube to monitor and manipulate what creators are doing," said a source close to the matter. "It’s all about increasing engagement and keeping users on the platform for longer periods of time."
YouTube is also expanding its rewards for livestreaming, including a model similar to TikTok and Twitch of "gifts" given by viewers to creators. But some are worried about the potential for this feature to be abused and for creators to become dependent on these gifts for their income.
The launch of these new features has sparked a heated debate in the creator community, with some calling for more transparency and control over their content and others embracing the new tools as a way to increase their reach and audience.
As the battle between human creativity and AI-generated content continues to rage, one thing is clear: YouTube’s new AI-powered tools are here to stay, and creators will need to adapt to the new landscape if they want to succeed.
