Don’t miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google.
YouTube has added automatic upscaling to videos across the platform, leveraging AI technology to (ideally) make everything look a little bit better.
The initial step is to bring older, low-resolution videos up to 1080p quality; however, in the long run, YouTube plans to upgrade everything to a quality that resembles 4K. Video thumbnails have also been enhanced to make them more legible.
Over 20 years on from its original launch, YouTube is more popular than ever, but where people watch it continues to evolve. Where it was once desktops, then mobile, now the majority of YouTube viewing is done on living room TVs. Hence, the upscaling to make even older videos look better on giant 4K TV screens. Thumbnails are bigger and more detailed too, to help draw in those next views.
For YouTube content creators who feel put out by YouTube automatically updating their content, YouTube wants it to be clear that they continue to retain control. The original video will remain online, along with the new upscaled version, allowing viewers to choose between them. Creators can also opt out of the upscaling entirely.
(Credit: YouTube)
Some viewers have already commented that the upscaling appears odd at times and can significantly alter the appearance of older videos. Others have raised hopes that the higher resolutions will mean YouTube might raise the bitrate of videos, as even 1080p resolution with a low bitrate doesn’t look particularly great on modern devices.
As for thumbnails, their maximum size has been increased from 2MB to 50MB. That’s going to make for a huge increase in storage needs for YouTube, but for viewers, it should produce thumbs that are easier to read with greater detail. Maybe it’ll finally put an end to those giant reaction shot faces that everyone has been using for the past couple of years.
Recommended by Our Editors
To further enhance the YouTube TV experience, the app has been updated for streaming devices to make it easier to jump between channels to see what they’ve released lately. There will be video previews of the latest videos and improved and updated contextual search to help users find what they want more readily.
In classic fashion, YouTube is also looking to further monetize the TV platform. To that end, it’s adding the ability for content creators to sell products directly within their videos. On specialized shopping videos, viewers will be able to scan an on-screen QR code to open a product page on their phone for easy purchase. And straightforward tracking of affiliate revenue, of course.
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Our Expert
Jon Martindale
Contributor
Experience
Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He’s written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he’s a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas.
Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.
Jon’s gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That’s all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.
Read Full Bio
