A new study suggests that YouTube’s efforts to limit low quality AI generated content are not fully working, as a large share of recommendations shown to new users still feature what is commonly called AI slop.
According to a report by video editing company Kapwing, more than 20 percent of videos recommended to new YouTube users fall into the AI slop category. The study analyzed 15,000 of the world’s most popular YouTube channels to understand how widely such content is being produced and consumed.
Researchers found that 278 out of 15,000 channels uploaded only AI slop videos. Together, these channels attracted 63 billion views and gained 221 million subscribers. The most viewed AI slop channel, with over 2.4 billion views, is Bandar Apna Dost, which is based in India. Its videos feature AI generated characters, including an anthropomorphic rhesus monkey and a muscular Hulk-like figure fighting demons.
Although YouTube does not allow monetisation of AI slop under its current policies, Kapwing estimates that these channels could collectively earn around $117 million each year. Bandar Apna Dost alone is estimated to generate about $4.25 million annually.
The study also tested YouTube’s recommendation system by creating a new account. Out of the first 500 videos suggested, 104 were AI slop. Another one third were classified as brain rot content.
Kapwing said this points to a fast growing and loosely structured industry that uses generative AI tools to farm engagement. It also includes scammers selling paid tips and courses on how to create viral AI generated videos.
AI slop is seen as especially concerning because it can be mass produced at scale using freely available tools. Users across platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube have complained that their feeds are increasingly filled with such content.
In response, platforms have tightened policies and removed some channels. Earlier this month, YouTube reportedly blocked 2 large channels that shared fake AI generated movie trailers. At the same time, tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI content. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in October that AI would “add yet another huge corpus of content” to recommendations as it becomes easier to create and remix media.
YouTube has also added Veo 3, Google’s AI video generator, to Shorts. Responding to the report, the platform said, “Generative AI is a tool, and like any tool it can be used to make both high- and low-quality content.” It added that it remains focused on high quality content and removes videos that break its rules.
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