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YouTube Unveils TV-Focused AI ‘Super Resolution,’ 4K Thumbnails and QR Shopping

The push targets booming TV viewing by adding AI upscaling for sub-1080p uploads, with explicit opt-outs and labeling.

Overview

  • YouTube will automatically upscale videos uploaded at 240p–720p to HD using AI, with a stated goal of supporting up to 4K, while preserving originals and allowing creators and viewers to opt out.
  • Super Resolution will be clearly labeled in settings, and YouTube says the original resolution remains selectable to avoid unwanted changes to a video's look.
  • Coverage differs on where upscaling appears: YouTube frames the update around TVs, while an NDTV report cites a Google spokesperson saying web and mobile will also be included.
  • TV apps are gaining immersive homepage previews, a redesigned Shows layout for serialized viewing, and contextual search that prioritizes a channel’s own videos when searching from its page.
  • YouTube is expanding thumbnail uploads from 2MB to 50MB and testing larger video uploads, and it is adding QR code shopping with trials of timed product moments as TV-driven viewing and creator earnings rise.