A new study reveals that over 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube users are low-quality AI-generated content, often dubbed «AI slop.» These videos are designed to attract views rather than provide meaningful or original content.
Kapwing, a video-editing company, analyzed 15,000 top YouTube channels worldwide and found 278 channels entirely devoted to AI slop. Collectively, these channels have over 63 bn views and 221 mln subscribers, generating an estimated $117 mln annually. On a fresh YouTube account, 104 of the first 500 recommended videos were AI slop, highlighting how prevalent such content has become.
Popular AI channels include India’s Bandar Apna Dost, featuring bizarre animated adventures, which may earn $4.25 mln a year, and Singapore’s Pouty Frenchie, a cartoonish channel aimed at children with 2 bn views. Other channels, like Pakistan’s The AI World, show AI-generated clips of disasters, paired with soothing soundtracks, attracting over 1.3 bn views.
Experts say AI slop thrives because it is designed to be instantly engaging, often absurd, and easily digestible. Many creators operate in middle-income countries such as India, Ukraine, and Brazil, where producing AI content can be more profitable than local wages. Social media platforms act as «testing machines,» helping these channels scale viral content rapidly.
