With a library spanning almost two decades, YouTube is preparing a massive overhaul of its older content through AI-powered "Super Resolution"The platform will begin automatically improving the sharpness of videos uploaded at resolutions below 1080p, a process similar to how you can increase the quality of a video, with an eye on achieve 4K in a later phase.
The company emphasizes that the original files will be preserved and that both creators and viewers will maintain control: the improvement will be able to to be disabled from the settings and will be clearly identified as an AI-processed version to avoid confusion.
What is YouTube Super Resolution and how does it work?
The new feature applies machine learning models on YouTube servers to reconstruct lost details in SD (240p/360p/480p) and partial HD (720p) videos, upscaling them to 1080p. Unlike classic upscaling (bilinear or bicubic), these networks reduce compression artifacts and they enhance edges, textures, and color in a way that is more faithful to the content.
In addition to the image, the platform explains that AI can adjust audio levels to balance the volume, mitigate background noise and improve the clarity of voices, with the aim of making the playback more uniform on large screens and home sound systems.
The experience will be indicated in the player: when you choose the quality, the visible label when it becomes available. Creators will be able to opt out If they prefer that their work remain untreated, users will always have access to the original, unenhanced version.
The launch prioritizes living room viewing, where YouTube is experiencing its fastest growth, so It will begin with televisionsHowever, the company confirms that the improvement It will also be available on the web and mobile devices., with the same labeling and control criteria.
Availability, control and deployment in Spain and Europe
The deployment will be gradual at a global levelWithout a fixed schedule for each country, but with the expectation that Spain and the rest of Europe will receive it during the same expansion windows as other key markets. The initial priority is TV apps, followed by web and mobile.
When the feature is active, the improvement will be will apply by default In videos that meet the technical requirements, there is always the option to return to the original quality from the settings menu. The creators, for their part, They will keep their files in full. and they will decide if they prefer not to use the upgrade.
To identify it, simply open the player's resolution selector: Improved version It will appear clearly labeled as "Super Resolution", making it easy to switch between the AI-processed playback and the original at any time.
Limitations, doubts and comparisons with other solutions
Like any intelligent scaling technique, its performance depends on the source material: in highly compressed or high-resolution sources, the performance will be lower. extremely low resolution (240p/360p)AI has to infer missing information and may introduce errors or "invent" details that were not in the original.
Faced with solutions like RTX Video Super Resolution Unlike NVIDIA or the super resolution built into Windows, YouTube's offering runs in the cloud. This avoids dependence on a specific GPU or television and allows it to any device Access the upgrade with a more consistent appearance.
The impact can be noticeable in music content, classic tutorials, or home recordings that currently look poor on 4K televisions. The platform, with its huge archive of old videosIt aims to make a good part of that catalog cleaner, more colorful and more stable without altering the original work.
The company also wants to avoid past controversies surrounding the use of AI in Shorts: this time it emphasizes that the creators They will have full control of their library and that the processed version will coexist with the original uploaded file, always with transparent information for the viewer.
If everything goes as YouTube promises, millions of low-resolution videos They will gain clarity and visual coherence on televisions, mobile phones and the web, with a visible label, option to disable and a 4K horizon in the spotlight; the challenge will be how AI solves the most extreme cases without losing naturalness.
