Google’s use of YouTube videos to train its AI models, including the new text-to-video tool Veo, has sparked concern and mixed reactions within the YouTube creator community. The practice has raised questions about content ownership and usage rights.
Creators are responding with a mix of apprehension and adaptation. Some, like Nate O’Brien, a finance channel host from Philadelphia, are experimenting with AI-generated scripts and voice-overs to streamline their production process. Others are exploring legal avenues, questioning whether YouTube’s terms of service grant Google the right to use creator content for AI training. Mark Lezama, a partner at Knobbe Martens, argues that creators may not have granted a license for AI training purposes by agreeing to the terms of service.
Google defends its practices by citing the fair-use doctrine, asserting its right to train models on publicly available content. A company spokesperson stated that Google has “always used YouTube data to make these systems better, and we remain committed to building technology that expands opportunity, while leading the industry with safeguards against the misuse of AI.” Google has also updated its privacy policy to allow users to request the removal of AI-generated content that simulates them.
The creator community is not unified in its response. Some creators, like Aaron de Azevedo, who manages 20 channels, have participated in AI deals, providing content for compensation. In contrast, others, such as Charles Chang, a finance creator with a multi-million-dollar YouTube empire, express concerns about AI-generated deepfakes potentially diluting their audience and brand recognition. Kathleen Grace, chief strategy officer at Vermillio, highlights the immediate threat posed by AI agents creating “deepfake versions of creators and falsely posing as them to message fans.”
Despite the anxieties, many creators see embracing AI as a necessary step. Eugene Lee, CEO of ChannelMeter, believes that leveraging AI is the only viable strategy. Melissa Hunter of Family Video Network notes that tools like Veo “didn’t exist when I signed YouTube’s terms of service years ago,” suggesting that the terms haven’t kept pace with the technology. Creators are incorporating AI-assisted tools for thumbnails, scripts, and analytics to maintain a competitive edge and safeguard their livelihoods.
With over 20 billion videos on the platform, the concerns of YouTube creators regarding AI training and licensing are unlikely to subside. The ongoing dialogue is reshaping the creator economy, with creators exploring alternative revenue streams, advocating for legal protections, and seeking increased compensation. The fundamental questions of content ownership, usage rights, and benefit distribution remain at the forefront of this evolving landscape.
