According to Forbes, YouTube is deploying artificial intelligence to automatically upscale its vast archive of standard-definition videos to HD quality. Senior Director of Product Management Kurt Wilms announced five new features last week aimed at making YouTube a “premier experience on TV.” The AI upscaling will initially target content below 1080p with future goals of reaching 4K resolution. This comes as YouTube reports a staggering 45% year-over-year increase in channels earning over six figures from TV screen revenue. The platform captured 12.5% of all U.S. television viewing in May 2025 according to Nielsen data, the highest share ever recorded for any streaming service.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
The big TV pivot
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just about making old cat videos look better. YouTube is fundamentally repositioning itself from a mobile-first platform to a living room powerhouse. When you look at those numbers – 45% revenue growth from TV and nearly an eighth of all U.S. television viewing – it’s clear why they’re investing so heavily in the TV experience. They’re basically future-proofing their entire content library because let’s face it, standard definition content looks pretty rough on modern 4K televisions.
Why creators should care
This is actually huge for creators. That 45% revenue jump from TV viewers isn’t just a nice statistic – it represents a fundamental shift in where the money’s coming from. Television audiences tend to watch longer, engage differently, and apparently spend more. By upscaling older content, YouTube is essentially giving creators a free visual upgrade that could breathe new life into their back catalog. And with the ability to opt-out and clear labeling, they’re trying to avoid the potential pitfalls of AI enhancement while still moving forward.
The shopping revolution
Now here’s where it gets really interesting. YouTube mentioned that viewers watch 35 billion hours of shopping-related content annually. That’s an almost unimaginable number. So they’re introducing QR codes and testing timed product placements within videos. Basically, they’re turning your couch into a shopping mall. This transforms passive TV watching into an active, transactional experience. It’s a smart play – as shopping content explodes, why not capture that revenue directly?
What this really means
So is this just about better video quality? Not even close. YouTube is essentially building a new television network from the ground up, but with one crucial difference – it’s creator-driven rather than studio-driven. The platform that started as a place for grainy home videos is now competing directly with traditional television networks. And honestly, they’re winning – that 12.5% TV share is absolutely massive in the streaming world. This AI upscaling move is just one piece of a much larger strategy to own your living room.
