A new study by video editing company Kapwing found that more than one in five videos recommended to new YouTube users are “AI slop.”
AI slop, also known as slop, refers to digital content created by generative artificial intelligence that specifically features low effort and cheap quality content. There is an overwhelming amount of production of these AI videos designed to drive views and advertising revenue.
In the study, Kapwign assessed 15,000 of YouTube’s most popular channels, including the top 100 channels in each country, and found that 278 channels consisted entirely of artificial intelligence.
Together, these channels have accumulated more than 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers. By tapping into this audience, the channels generated an estimated $117 million (£90 million) annually.
To measure how content went viral on the platform, researchers created a new YouTube account with no personal preferences or interests. It found that out of the first 500 recommended videos, 104 were completely AI slop, while about a third fell into a broader category of brainrot content, which is also another form of low-quality and pointless AI-generated content.
These findings indicate a rapidly growing ecosystem of algorithm-driven content spreading across social media platforms, including YouTube.
The Guardian reported earlier this year that about 10% of YouTube’s fastest-growing channels are powered entirely by AI slop, despite the platform’s efforts to curb “inauthentic content.”
Interestingly, many of the biggest AI slop channels attract a global audience. In Spain, trending AI channels gained 20 million followers, while similar channels with millions of subscribers exist in the US, Egypt, Brazil and India.
Analysts say the popularity of AI slop stems from its absurdity, lack of narrative complexity and algorithmic amplification. While social media platforms say they prioritize quality content, researchers argue that the reach of these AI slop channels indicates how effectively they leverage recommendation systems and are deeply embedded in the modern attention economy.
