TECHNOLOGY

YouTube's Hidden AI Makeover: What's Really Happening to Your Videos?

Sun Aug 24 2025

YouTube has been secretly tweaking videos with AI, and creators are not happy.

The Discovery

Rick Beato, a popular music YouTuber, noticed something odd in his videos. His face looked different, almost like he was wearing makeup. He wondered if he was just imagining things.

But he wasn't.

YouTube has been using AI to make small changes to videos without telling anyone. These changes include:

  • Making wrinkles in shirts more noticeable
  • Altering the appearance of skin
  • Even changing the look of ears

These changes are subtle, but some creators say they make videos look artificial.

The Broader Impact

This isn't just about YouTube. AI is increasingly involved in how we experience reality. Soon, the question won't be about spotting the differences, but about how this affects our connection to the real world.

Creators Speak Out

Rhett Shull, another popular YouTuber, noticed the same issues in his videos. He made a video about it that got over 500,000 views. He said the changes make his content look AI-generated, which misrepresents him and his work. He's worried it could harm his relationship with his audience.

The Big Questions

This raises important questions:

  • Should YouTube be making these changes without asking?
  • How does this affect the trust between creators and their audience?

As AI becomes more involved in our lives, we need to think about these issues carefully.

questions

    If YouTube's AI can make ears warp, will we soon see a trend of 'AI ear' fashion?
    How does YouTube's secret AI editing impact the trust between creators and their audience?
    Will YouTube's AI eventually start adding sunglasses to everyone's faces to hide the edits?

actions