YouTube introduces Made with AI labels for generated music and video content

What happened

YouTube has announced a new labeling system to increase transparency regarding music created with generative AI. The rollout began on October 14, 2026, starting with the YouTube Music app and later expanding to the main YouTube app [1, 2].

Key details of the system include:

• The “Made with AI” label will appear on the player page for tracks that are altered or fully generated using AI [1].
• Users can tap the label on the player page to open a menu containing more information about the specific role AI played in the track [1, 2].
• Music partners can disclose their use of generative AI through three specific designations: “Fully Gen AI” for tracks entirely generated by AI, “Partly Gen AI” for works incorporating AI components with live elements, and “No Gen AI” for tracks using tools like Auto-Tune for pitch correction [2].
• YouTube is using its own detection tools and collaborating with music partners to identify these tracks [1, 2].
• If a partner does not disclose AI use, YouTube may use other signals to decide if a song is AI-generated [1].
• Unlike some other platforms, YouTube is focusing on disclosure rather than restrictions; AI involvement does not make a track ineligible for monetization [2].
• YouTube also experiments with its own AI-powered music creation tool called Dream Track, which allows select creators to generate soundtracks using AI versions of participating artists’ voices [2].

Other platforms have taken different approaches to AI music:

• Spotify has a voluntary AI label and a music spam filter [2].
• Apple Music is reportedly planning to introduce “Made With AI” labels as part of its AI Transparency Tags later this year [2].
• Deezer reported receiving nearly 90,000 fully AI-generated tracks daily in July and is working on a user filter for AI music [2].
• Tidal labels entirely AI-generated recordings, allows users to disable them, and excludes them from royalty attribution [2].
• Bandcamp banned AI music earlier this year [1].