If you mysteriously lost a video you uploaded to YouTube recently, there’s a good chance you don’t have a human being to blame. The COVID-19 virus is putting artificial intelligence more in charge of evaluating content.
As Google and YouTube empties its offices in the wake of Coronavirus quarantine procedures, A.I. algorithms take over in the evaluation of user videos. In an open letter to users on its Creator Blog, YouTube representatives explained the service and parent company Google is concerned for their employees first and foremost.
As the Coronavirus pushes humans from YouTube offices, artificial intelligence is monitoring more … [+]
That concern led to the temporary worker exodus from YouTube HQ in this new, illness-driven “work from home” era. Now, the computers are in charge of reviewing uploads to a much greater extent.
The letter states: “Machine learning helps detect potentially harmful content and then sends it to human reviewers for assessment. As a result of the new measures we’re taking, we will temporarily start relying more on technology to help with some of the work normally done by reviewers.”
The end result finds automated systems evaluating and removing video content without the standard human review such cases garner when a potentially deadly virus isn’t disrupting office populations.
The blog explanation warns users and creators could see increased video removals — even in cases that don’t seemingly violate Google or YouTube policies. With that in mind, the human beings still on duty will review creator appeals. Of course, the same personnel shortage that put A.I. in charge of video reviews will also slow down that appeals process. Regardless of the reason for the video removal or the appeal result, YouTube reviewers won’t issue “strikes” on creators except when evidence indicates a genuine violation.
With offices getting emptier, artificial intelligence is doing more of the work for humans sent home … [+]
The lack of consistent human supervision will also lead to more cautious promotion of popular videos and livestreams. Content that hasn’t yet been fully reviewed may not be available via search, on a user’s homepage or in recommendation listings. These temporary policies will not have any effect on the monetization of videos.
In a final impact the Coronavirus is having at YouTube, the site will continue to enforce all previously stated policies on coronavirus content. The site will remove any videos from pseudo-experts that urge people to avoid medical treatment or that claim unproven or harmful substances provide cures, virus protection or other health benefits.