YouTube stops paying 'creators' of AI slop
YouTube wants thoughtful, creative content that isn’t drowned out by AI uploads.
Picture: Pexels.com
CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online stories.
Listen below:
You may have noticed the surge of AI-generated videos and voiceovers on YouTube, and you’re not alone. YouTube has taken notice, and change is coming.
Starting Tuesday, 15 July 2025, YouTube will stop monetising videos that are mostly AI-generated, repetitive, or lack genuine human input.
This means creators who rely heavily on automated content, like AI voiceovers, basic slideshow-style visuals, or formulaic videos with minimal variation, could lose out on revenue.
“To monetise under the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), creators must upload ‘original’ and ‘authentic’ content. On July 15, 2025, we’re updating our guidelines to better identify mass-produced, repetitive content. This change reflects today’s standards of what qualifies as 'inauthentic'.”
- YouTube
If you appear in your videos, speak in your own voice, or bring your unique ideas and personality to your content, you’re in the clear. YouTube stressed that this policy isn’t targeting creators who use AI as a tool, but rather those who use it to replace originality entirely.
"Increasingly, on social media I've noticed more and more of these AI voiceovers and I find them irritating... like, it does not replace the human voice, it has a different feel and I'm glad YouTube agrees with us..."
- Barbara Friedman
"I think it's a really positive step. They won't be targeting creators who use AI as a helpful tool... It's focused on those who want to replace human originality completely."
- Barbara Friedman
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