How AI helps YouTube Health transform the reach and scale of high-quality health information

AI is transforming how information is produced and consumed at scale. Here are three ways YouTube uses AI to transform and scale high-quality health content for everyone

Across a wide range of countries, there is a growing trend that large proportions of the general public search for online health information before seeking the formal advice of healthcare professionals. Invariably, much of this traffic converges upon YouTube, which hosted more than 200 billion views of health content globally in 2023 alone. In light of this responsibility, at YouTube Health we strive to make high-quality, diverse and relevant health information accessible to everyone. In order to achieve this, we have launched specific products, such as our health information and personal stories content shelves, which have made it easier for people to find and identify high-quality health content.

Through the recent exciting paradigm shifts seen in the generative artificial intelligence era, we are now presented with even greater technical capabilities to further expand the reach and impact of high-quality health content on our platform. We strongly believe that these technical breakthroughs will transform the manner in which high-quality health content is both consumed and produced.
Over the coming years, we will undoubtedly enter an era in which viewers are able to engage with content in a richer and more precise fashion through the responsible use of generative AI. State-of-the-art AI tools offer the ability to help viewers bridge language gaps that may have once precluded them from effectively engaging with the health content that they encounter. For creators, the multimodal capabilities of AI models democratises routes to increase the production value and engagingness of their content, whether it is through high-quality visual assets or accurate translation tools.

Over the past year, YouTube Health has been exploring a number of AI-powered experiences, either in closed testing or through general availability releases, as a means of expanding the impact of AI in the health information ecosystem globally. Here are three ways in which we are bringing the best of AI technology to the health community.

Overcoming language barriers through AI

As a global platform, we need to make sure that health information meets the language needs of people around the world. YouTube Health has been collaborating with select health content creators to test an AI-powered tool that makes the dubbing process easier, faster and at no additional cost to content creators. Dubbing is typically a costly and time-consuming process, but with this tool AI can help unlock crucial health information that may otherwise be contained in a single language. As part of this effort, YouTube Health works alongside clinicians to review translations, while ensuring that creators have ultimate control over their dubbed videos.

Empowering creation through responsible AI tools

Health creators must carefully balance how they convey evolving scientific information and the demand to make the content accessible and engaging. Currently, health creators spend hours undertaking research, peer-reviewing information and generating scripts related to specific medical topics. In order to meet the audience’s need for accessible high-quality health content, we’re exploring AI tools to support the ideation, outlining and scripting processes of content creation.

Elevating authoritative content

AI has long powered YouTube’s search results and Watch Next panels, sifting through billions of videos to organise and recommend the most relevant content for viewers. When it comes to health information, it’s even more critical that our systems elevate content from authoritative sources. We have worked closely with organisations, such as the World Health Organization, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Health Service, to implement principles for raising credible sources of health information. These principles are incorporated into products so that people see locally relevant authoritative sources of health information more prominently in search results and can see video labels to know if content is from a licensed health professional or accredited institution. In select countries, medical professionals can apply for a health label so their content is eligible to be part of our authoritative health features.

An evolving process

The immediate and near-term potential of AI tools is undeniable, however, we are, above all, committed to the responsible implementation of these technologies. As we embark upon this evolving process, we are excited to continue working alongside health content creators and organisations to continue building a future that helps more people than ever before access reliable, credible health information. ▪