YouTube has officially announced a major upgrade to video viewing on TVs, confirming that it will start using artificial intelligence to automatically upscale low-resolution videos.
The feature will initially enhance standard-definition (SD) content to high-definition (HD), with plans to support upscaling all the way up to 4K resolution in the near future. This AI-powered enhancement will only be available on TV platforms for now, with YouTube highlighting that TVs are currently its fastest-growing viewing surface globally.
Whenever AI upscaling is active, users will see a “Super resolution” label beneath the video quality settings. This will ensure viewers know when YouTube’s machine-learning technology is boosting the visual quality. Importantly, content creators who prefer to keep their videos unmodified will have the option to opt out of AI upscaling.
In addition to video quality upgrades, YouTube is also rolling out several new features to enhance the TV viewing and browsing experience. One of the biggest changes is the expansion of the thumbnail file size limit, shifting from 2MB to a significantly higher 50MB allowance. As a result, creators can now upload high-quality, eye-catching 4K resolution thumbnails, making content more visually appealing on large screens.
YouTube viewers on TVs will soon enjoy “immersive previews” on the homepage, allowing them to quickly browse channels and get dynamic previews before clicking.
Another helpful upgrade is contextual search for smart TVs. When users search directly from a channel page, search results will prioritize relevant videos from that channel, offering a more personalized browsing experience. Additionally, YouTube is introducing scannable QR codes on compatible videos, enabling viewers to instantly open product pages on their phones for items featured in videos—streamlining shopping and boosting creator monetization.
With these updates, YouTube continues to strengthen its presence on smart TVs, delivering a more immersive, high-quality, and interactive viewing experience for users worldwide.