Of the first 500 videos shown, 104 were classified as AI slop.
More than one in five videos recommended to new YouTube users are “AI slop”, research has found, raising fresh concerns about platform quality.
The term refers to low-quality, AI-generated videos designed to farm views and advertising revenue rather than inform or entertain meaningfully.
The findings come from Kapwing, a video-editing company that surveyed 15,000 of YouTube’s most popular channels worldwide.
It analysed the top 100 channels in every country and found 278 channels that contain only AI slop.
Together, these channels have amassed more than 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers. Kapwing estimates they generate around £90 million in revenue each year.
Researchers also created a new YouTube account to test the recommendation algorithm.
Of the first 500 videos shown, 104 were classified as AI slop.
One-third of the recommended videos were labelled “brainrot”, a broader category that includes AI slop and other low-quality content designed to monetise attention.
The research offers a snapshot of what Kapwing describes as a rapidly expanding industry, arguing that this content is saturating major social media platforms, including YouTube, X and Meta.
A Guardian analysis earlier in 2025 found that nearly 10% of YouTube’s fastest-growing channels were AI slop.
Those channels were racking up millions of views despite the platform’s stated efforts to curb “inauthentic content”.
Kapwing found that AI slop channels are globally distributed and globally watched.
In Spain, 20 million people follow trending AI channels. AI channels have 18 million followers in Egypt, 14.5 million in the US, and 13.5 million in Brazil.
The most-viewed channel in the study was India-based Bandar Apna Dost, which has 2.4 billion views.
It features an anthropomorphic rhesus monkey and a muscular character modelled on the Incredible Hulk. The characters fight demons and travel on a helicopter made of tomatoes.
Kapwing estimates the channel could make as much as $4.25 million.
Rohini Lakshané, a researcher on technology and digital rights, said Bandar Apna Dost’s appeal was likely rooted in its format.
She said its popularity most likely stems from its absurdity, hyper-masculine tropes and lack of plot. That lack of narrative makes it easy for new viewers to drop in without context.
Other high-performing channels appear to target children.
Some AI slop channels focus on disaster imagery.
The AI World, based in Pakistan, features AI-generated shorts of catastrophic flooding. Its videos have titles such as Poor People, Poor Family, and Flood Kitchen.
Many are set to a soundtrack called Relaxing Rain, Thunder & Lightning Ambience for Sleep.
The channel has accumulated 1.3 billion views.
The overall scale of AI slop on YouTube remains difficult to quantify as it doesn’t publish annual view figures or detailed data on AI-generated content.
However, researchers argue the trend reflects a semi-structured industry built around exploiting algorithms.
Creator payment programmes are often opaque, making income unpredictable.
The ecosystem is also rife with scammers selling courses and tips, who can earn more than creators themselves.
Despite those risks, AI slop can still provide a livelihood for some.
New attention-grabbing formats emerge constantly, but success depends heavily on platform algorithms.
YouTube said generative AI itself was not the problem.
A spokesperson said: “Generative AI is a tool, and like any tool it can be used to make both high- and low-quality content.
“We remain focused on connecting our users with high-quality content, regardless of how it was made.
“All content uploaded to YouTube must comply with our community guidelines, and if we find that content violates a policy, we remove it.”
Loading ...