AI News Monitor

Google is tapping into its vast library of YouTube videos—some 20 billion clips—to train its artificial intelligence models, including the advanced video generator Veo 3, according to internal sources. While the company says it only uses a subset of videos and honors agreements with creators, the practice has sparked fears of an intellectual property crisis in the digital content world.

The revelation, confirmed by Google to CNBC, has caught many creators and media companies off guard, despite YouTube’s assertion that it has been transparent about the use of content for AI training. Experts warn that even if only a fraction of YouTube’s catalog is used, the scale is staggering: just 1% amounts to 2.3 billion minutes of video—far more than competitors’ training datasets.

“We’ve always used YouTube content to improve our products, and AI is no different,” a YouTube spokesperson said, emphasizing safeguards for creators. Yet, critics argue that many artists and media professionals remain unaware their work could be feeding AI systems that may one day rival them.

The issue gained urgency after Google unveiled Veo 3 in May, showcasing hyper-realistic AI-generated videos. While the company indemnifies users against copyright claims, creators like Luke Arrigoni of Loti argue that the lack of opt-out options for Google’s own training models is unfair. “They’re taking data from creators who’ve invested time and thought into their work,” he said.

Some creators, like YouTuber Sam Beres, see AI as an inevitability to embrace. But others fear unauthorized replication of their likeness. Vermillio, a digital rights firm, has found instances where AI-generated videos closely matched original content, raising legal and ethical questions.

As Hollywood heavyweights like Disney and Universal take AI firms to court, lawmakers are also stepping in. “We must give creators enforceable rights,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) at a recent hearing. Without action, the tension between innovation and ownership may only deepen.