YouTube’s AI upscaling might finally fix old low-res videos

I’ve been a massive Peter Watkins (who also recently passed away) fan for years. But there’s one film of his — La Commune (Paris, 1871) — that I’ve never been able to enjoy properly. The only place I can watch it is YouTube, and the quality is, well… disappointingly rough. But that might soon change. As, YouTube has announced it’s bringing AI-powered upscaling to low-resolution videos, a feature it calls “Super resolution.” It will automatically enhance uploads below 1080p, starting with TV devices. Now, let's dive in to discuss what this new feature is all about.

YouTube AI Upscaling Overview

 YouTube says it’s using AI to upscale videos from SD to HD and eventually up to 4K. When available, the player will show a “Super resolution” label under the quality settings. But YouTube has also clarified that creators can opt out, and viewers can switch back to the original version anytime. YouTube stresses that originals will stay untouched, giving creators “complete control” over how their content appears.

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Why the Upscale?

The platform says TV is now its fastest-growing audience, but many old videos look bad on large 4K screens. Upscaling helps 'fix' that and improves sharpness and reduces compression artifacts. Meanwhile, other than TV, you will also be getting these features in your phones or web as well.  YouTube also raised thumbnail size limits from 2 MB to 50 MB for 4K-quality images and added other TV-focused features like immersive previews and a new “Shows” layout.

Will it be perfect?

I am actually suspicious about AI upscaling, and particularly for something like films. But the real issue is that it isn’t always accurate. It can invent textures, smooth out grain, or remove the intentional roughness of older footage, which could affect documentaries or films with a lo-fi aesthetic. It's rather good that Google has actually included something like the opt-out option because it matters a lot. Some creators may prefer keeping their original visual style untouched.

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