YouTube TV Update: AI Upscaling & QR Code Shopping
▼ Summary
– YouTube now dominates TV streaming, attracting more viewers than Netflix and Disney+ and introducing new features like shopping and AI upscaling.
– Creators are getting tools to enhance their TV appeal, including a higher thumbnail file size limit increased from 2MB to 50MB.
– Creators can opt out of upscaling and access both original and upscaled files, with super resolution videos clearly labeled for viewers.
YouTube’s television streaming service is introducing a suite of new capabilities aimed at enriching the viewing experience and expanding creator opportunities. The platform now outpaces competitors like Netflix and Disney+ in attracting TV audiences, and these latest enhancements, including AI-powered video upscaling, QR code-driven shopping, and a more immersive channel browsing interface, are designed to solidify that lead. Google is also highlighting a significant financial uptick for creators, reporting that channels earning over $100,000 annually have surged by 45 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
To help creators better capture viewer attention on the big screen, YouTube has dramatically increased the maximum file size for video thumbnails. The new limit is a substantial 50MB, a major leap from the previous 2MB restriction. This change allows for much higher-quality, detailed preview images, which are often critical for driving clicks and engagement.
A key technical upgrade involves the rollout of AI upscaling for videos. Initially, this feature will automatically enhance lower-resolution content to 1080p quality, with plans to soon extend “super resolution” support all the way up to 4K. It’s important to note that the original video file remains unaltered in YouTube’s system. Creators retain access to their initial upload and can choose to disable the upscaling process entirely if they wish.
For viewers, super-resolved videos will be clearly marked, providing the option to watch the original version instead. This move toward transparency addresses earlier feedback from the creator community. During initial tests of the upscaling technology, some users expressed frustration over the sudden, artificial appearance of their content without clear notification, making this new labeling and opt-out capability a crucial development.
(Source: Ars Technica)
