YouTube said it will start a U.S. pilot on Wednesday of an age-verification system that uses artificial-intelligence to infer whether viewers are adults or minors by analysing the types of videos they watch. The trial will cover only a small share of logged-in users but could be expanded nationwide if the model proves reliable, the Google-owned platform said in a blog post. Accounts the system concludes belong to people under 18 will automatically receive existing safeguards, including limits on recommendations, reminders to take screen breaks, privacy warnings and the removal of personalised advertising. Users who are mistakenly classified as minors can override the decision by submitting a government ID, a credit card or a selfie. Viewing without an account will remain possible, but some content will be blocked unless age is verified. James Beser, YouTube’s director of product management, called the approach "another step in delivering safety protections while preserving teen privacy." The move comes as U.S. lawmakers and regulators intensify scrutiny of online platforms following the Supreme Court’s June decision upholding a Texas law that forces pornography sites to confirm viewers’ ages. Similar legislation is under debate in Congress and has already been adopted in parts of Europe and Australia. Civil-liberties groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Center for Democracy & Technology warn that mandatory age checks could erode privacy and chill free expression. Some companies argue the responsibility should instead sit with smartphone app stores. YouTube said it will study accuracy, privacy and user feedback during the pilot before considering a broader rollout.