New policy points to YouTube AI Content Crackdown, Or Does It?
A YouTube AI content crackdown appear to have started with a major update to its content rules starting July 15. But with Google promoting its own AI tools for creators, is this move more about owning the AI wave?
New policy points to a YouTube AI Content Crackdown
by Bobby Owsinski via Music 3.0
If there’s one thing that just about everyone can agree on, it’s that AI-generated content known as “AI slop” is seriously boring and beginning to clog up the internet. Not only that, it’s pushing out content created by humans as sometimes recommendation engines can’t tell the difference. If this continues, you may see users begin to flee existing streaming and social platforms in search of true authentic content. In fact, content with flaws may soon become a sort of badge of honor for creators. To that end, YouTube has announced steps to combat AI slop in its upcoming update to its terms of service agreement.
According to its policy updates page, “YouTube has always required creators to upload “original” and “authentic” content. On July 15, 2025, YouTube is updating our guidelines to better identify mass-produced and repetitious content. This update better reflects what “inauthentic” content looks like today.”
YouTube doesn’t specifically name AI-generated content here, you can bet that’s what the update is aimed at. And with good reason.
According to ZebraCat, “72% of YouTube creators regularly use AI-generated thumbnails, increasing click-through rates by 38%. Approximately 58% of video ads shown on YouTube are AI-generated.” Not only that, studies analyzing hashtags found YouTube to have 1.79 million mentions of AI-related hashtags, more than on any other platform.
It Sounds Good, But. . .
That said, YouTube doesn’t release data on how many videos are actually AI-generated, and I think the reason here is that you can’t hold Google(YouTube’s owner) blameless.
Google is using YouTube videos to train its Gemini AI, and it’s advanced Veo 3 video generation model will soon be available for people to use in their YouTube Shorts videos.
The message here seems to be “Don’t upload AI videos because it’s not great training material, but if you choose to do it anyway, then use our AI video generator.”
There’s a fine line between helpful AI content and AI content just to gather clicks and streams. Ask anyone who uses it regularly and they’ll tell you that creating really good content with AI takes a certain level of skill, and that should be appreciated. On the other hand, AI slop has got to go.
Bobby Owsinski is a producer/engineer, author, blogger, podcaster, and coach. He has authored 24 books on music production, music, the music business, music AI, and social media.
