Who is shaping what new users see on YouTube, what kind of content are they being shown, when does this problem appear, where is it happening, why is it spreading and how is it affecting the platform’s future? When a first-time user opens YouTube in 2026, they expect creativity and discovery. Instead, many are greeted by a flood of strange, repetitive, and low-effort videos. A new study reveals that from the very first scroll, YouTube’s algorithm is pushing large amounts of low-quality, AI-generated content, raising serious questions about the platform’s recommendation system.
The study, conducted by video-editing company Keping, highlights the rise of what researchers call “AI slop.” These videos are created using artificial intelligence tools and are not meant to educate or truly entertain. Their main goal is simple: grab attention, generate clicks, and make money. Researchers examined nearly 15,000 popular YouTube channels and identified 278 channels that upload only AI-generated videos. Despite their low quality, these channels have together gained billions of views and earned tens of millions of dollars, proving just how profitable this trend has become.
To understand the real experience of a new user, researchers created a fresh YouTube account and tracked what the platform recommended. The results were alarming. Out of the first 500 suggested videos, 104 were identified as AI slop. Nearly one-third of all recommendations were sensational, low-value clips with little meaningful content. This means new users are quickly pulled into an algorithm-driven loop of shallow and misleading videos, rather than being shown thoughtful or original content.
YouTube says it enforces content guidelines and policies, but critics argue that its recommendation algorithm continues to promote these low-quality AI videos because they perform well in terms of clicks and watch time. This has sparked concern among experts and creators; especially about how first-time users form their impression of the platform. Many believe the system rewards volume and virality over quality and creativity.
The findings raise a serious question about the future of online content. If new YouTube users are exposed to large amounts of low-quality, AI-generated videos from day one, their trust in the platform may weaken. While AI can be a powerful creative tool, its unchecked use for click-driven content risks lowering the overall standard of digital platforms. As AI continues to grow, the real challenge for YouTube will be finding the right balance between innovation and quality, ensuring viewers receive real value, not just endless views.
