Do you have to disclose AI content on YouTube?

Only for content that could be mistaken for real. YouTube requires disclosure when synthetic media realistically depicts a real person, event or place.

That means a deepfake of a real person, a fabricated news event, or an altered real location needs the "altered or synthetic content" label in the upload flow.

It does not cover animation, clearly stylised visuals, AI-assisted scripting, AI voiceover on your own words, or production assistance generally. An animated skeleton-character explainer isn't realistic depiction, so the label doesn't apply.

Getting it wrong on the required cases risks label removal, video removal, or suspension from the Partner Programme. Getting it wrong the other way — labelling animation unnecessarily — costs nothing but may reduce click-through.

As with monetisation rules, this policy has changed more than once. Check YouTube's current guidance rather than relying on a summary.