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YouTube Unveils ‘Super Resolution’ AI to Upgrade Low‑Res Videos, Plus New TV Shopping and Discovery Tools

Automatic upgrades apply to uploads in the 240p–720p range, with viewer labels plus creator opt‑outs.

Overview

  • YouTube will automatically generate HD versions of videos uploaded below 1080p, labeling the option as “Super Resolution” and letting viewers choose the original version.
  • A YouTube spokesperson said the upscaling applies only to 240p–720p uploads, so videos already at 1080p or remastered above that remain unchanged.
  • The company confirmed the feature will be available across TVs, the web, and mobile, with support for upscaling to 4K planned in the near term.
  • Creators retain intact originals and can opt out of upscaling, while YouTube is testing larger upload sizes with select creators to support higher‑quality source files.
  • TV‑first updates also include scannable shopping QR codes and timed product moments, immersive channel previews, contextual search prioritizing a channel’s videos, and an increased thumbnail limit to 50MB for 4K images.