AI Content is Ruining YouTube

Over the last 12 months or so I have noticed an influx of AI generated content and Faceless Channels, and I believe it has had a serious negative impact on the viewing experience on YouTube. The main area of YouTube that I think is negatively impacted by this content are the search results. There are plenty of times when I will search specific topics and sort by newest upload and the primary results I get are AI generated listicles.

I’m not discussing content created by someone who uses AI tools to assist in generating videos, I am talking about people who seek the highest CPM or highest affiliate marketing categories, and just use AI to create countless videos in these topics to try and get massive views and affiliate link sales with LOW EFFORT content that they do not actually care about.

There are also an increasing number of commentary channels that seem to be using A.I. to generate the content, or at the very least generate the voice.

I think this is negatively impacting YouTube for multiple reasons:

  1. In many cases the people inputting prompts to the AI (or hiring people on fiver to produce the content) have no knowledge in the subject matter so they are unable to fact check or verify that information is correct. This means that they are going to be putting out inaccurate information.

  2. The thing that has made YouTube special is the fact that any random person who is passionate about topic X, Y, or Z can make a video talking about it and sharing that passion. When those people are drowned out by the floor of inauthentic, unpassionate, soulless AI/Faceless content, the “soul” of YouTube dies. I know that sounds dramatic, but the passionate people who make content are pushed off the platform, the platform ceases to be interesting and loses the main draw.

That’s my take on why AI content and Faceless Channels are ruining YouTube. If you have any experience with this, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment.s

Clip from BSP-388: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz4hpFUO2jU
Originally aired: 12 MAY 2024

Bandrew Scott

Bandrew Scott is the founder and host of the youtube channel Podcastage, where he posts reviews of audio gear, and shares tips and tricks to improve the audio of your Podcast, YouTube Channel, or Live Stream.

He also founded the Geeks Rising podcast network, which is home to amazing education, wellness, and pop culture podcasts such as Tourette’s Podcast, Sunshine & Powercuts, and On The Subject.

Bandrew also runs his own show titled the Bandrew Says Podcast. On this show he analyzes the latest news to determine how it affects the content creation ecosystem, and shares that to help creates remain aware of how the platform they use is changing.