As generative AI tools become more accessible, YouTube is grappling with an influx of low-effort, automated videos dubbed "AI slop" – content mass-produced solely to exploit the platform's recommendation system for views and ad revenue. A recent investigation by video-editing platform Kapwing reveals that these mindless clips are not just proliferating; they're being aggressively promoted to brand-new users, making up a startling portion of initial recommendations.
Alarming Exposure for New Accounts
Kapwing's researchers simulated a fresh user experience by creating a new YouTube account and scrolling through the first 500 recommended Shorts. The results were stark: 104 videos (21%) were identified as pure AI slop, while an additional category of "brainrot" – encompassing AI slop and other nonsensical, low-quality content designed to hook attention – accounted for 165 videos (33%).
This means over one-third of the feed for unseasoned viewers consists of compulsive, often surreal material that prioritizes engagement metrics over substance.
The methodology involved manual classification, focusing on telltale signs like unnatural animations, repetitive formats, and scripted narratives lacking originality.
For new users without viewing history, YouTube's algorithm defaults to globally trending content – and right now, AI slop performs exceptionally well on those metrics, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.
A Lucrative Underground Industry
Kapwing analyzed the top 100 trending channels in every country (totaling 15,000 channels) and identified 278 dedicated entirely to AI slop. Collectively, these channels have garnered over 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers, with estimated annual ad revenue reaching $117 million.
Leading the pack is India's Bandar Apna Dost, featuring bizarre adventures of an anthropomorphic monkey and a Hulk-like character (e.g., battling demons or flying tomato helicopters), amassing 2.07-2.4 billion views and potentially earning $4.25 million yearly.
South Korea's Three Minutes Wisdom – showing cute pets defeating wild animals in photorealistic scenes – clocks in at 2.02 billion views and around $4 million in revenue. U.S.-based Spanish-language channel Cuentos Fascinantes (Dragon Ball-themed stories) holds the subscriber record at 5.95-6.65 million.
Global consumption patterns highlight regional hotspots:
- South Korea** tops views with 8.45 billion across trending slop channels.
- Pakistan** follows at 5.34 billion.
- United States** at 3.39 billion, with nearly 15 million subscribers.
- Spain** leads in subscribers (20.22 million combined).
Other notables include Singapore's Pouty Frenchie (a French bulldog in candy forests, ~2 billion views, ~$4 million revenue) and religious-themed channels like Imperio de Jesus.
The Vicious Cycle of the 'Dead Internet'
This phenomenon exemplifies the "dead internet" theory: as AI slop generates high watch time and retention – whether from genuine curiosity, bots, or algorithmic testing – YouTube's system rewards it with prime placement.
Low production costs (near zero with tools like Sora or Veo) and minimal human input create powerful financial incentives, spawning communities on Telegram and Discord sharing templates, scripts, and monetization hacks.
Despite YouTube's policies against "inauthentic" or mass-produced content, enforcement lags. The platform has terminated some egregious offenders (e.g., fake movie trailer channels in late 2025), but slop persists. A prior Guardian analysis found nearly 10% of fastest-growing channels were AI-only.
Critics warn of broader impacts: normalizing low standards for younger viewers, exploiting illusory truth effects (repetitive claims feel credible), and eroding trust in online media.
As Kapwing notes, this surge signals "information exhaustion," where noise overwhelms quality, boosting the value of verified sources.
YouTube maintains focus on "high-quality content regardless of creation method," but the data suggests the algorithm – optimized for engagement – is inadvertently fueling a multi-million-dollar slop economy. For new users dipping into the platform, the first impression is increasingly artificial, addictive, and empty. As AI video tools evolve, this flood shows no signs of receding without significant policy shifts.
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