Youtube Prepares Crackdown On ‘mass-produced’ And ‘repetitive’ Videos, As Concern Over Ai Slop Grows

YouTube is preparing to update its policies to ace down connected creators’ expertise to make gross from “inauthentic” content, including mass-produced videos and different types of repetitive contented — things that person go easier to make pinch nan thief of AI technology.

On July 15, nan institution will update its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) Monetization policies pinch much elaborate guidelines astir what type of contented tin gain creators money and what cannot.

The nonstop argumentation connection itself has not yet been released, but a page connected YouTube’s Help documentation explains that creators person ever been required to upload “original” and “authentic” content. The update says that nan caller connection will thief creators to amended understand what “inauthentic” contented looks for illustration today.

Some YouTube creators were concerned that nan update would limit their expertise to monetize definite types of videos, for illustration guidance videos aliases those featuring clips, but a station from YouTube Head of Editorial & Creator Liaison, Rene Ritchie, says that’s not nan case.

In a video update published connected Tuesday, Ritchie says that nan alteration is conscionable a “minor update” to YouTube’s longstanding YPP policies and is designed to amended place erstwhile contented is mass-produced aliases repetitive.

Plus, Ritchie adds, this type of contented has been ineligible for monetization for years, arsenic it’s contented that viewers often see spam.

What Ritche is not saying, however, is really overmuch easier it is to create specified videos these days.

With nan emergence of AI technology, YouTube has go flooded pinch AI slop, a word referencing low-quality media aliases contented made utilizing generative AI technology. For instance, it’s common to find an AI sound overlaid connected photos, video clips, aliases different repurposed content, acknowledgment to text-to-video AI tools. Some channels filled pinch AI euphony person millions of subscribers. Fake, AI-generated videos astir news events, like nan Diddy trial, person racked up millions of views.

In different example, a existent crime execution bid connected YouTube that went viral was recovered to beryllium wholly AI-generated, 404 Media reported earlier this year. Even YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s likeness was used successful an AI-generated phishing scam connected nan site, contempt having devices successful spot that let users to study deepfake videos.

While YouTube whitethorn downplay nan coming changes arsenic a “minor” update aliases clarification, nan reality is that allowing this type of contented to turn and its creators to profit could yet harm YouTube’s estimation and value. It’s nary surprise, then, that nan institution wants clear policies successful spot that let it to enact wide bans of AI slop creators from YPP.