A surge of low-quality, AI-generated videos is rapidly reshaping what users see on YouTube Shorts, with new research showing that more than half of short-form video recommendations for new users now fall into the category of AI “slop” or so-called brainrot content.
The findings come from a study conducted by video-editing platform Kapwing and were first reported by The Guardian. Researchers analyzed the first 500 videos recommended to a brand-new YouTube Shorts account with no viewing history or interactions.
According to the data, 104 of those videos, around 21 percent, were identified as AI-generated. Another 165 videos, or 33 percent, were classified as brainrot content. Combined, these two categories made up 54 percent of all recommended videos.
Kapwing defines brainrot as nonsensical, low-quality video content that can dull a viewer’s mental engagement. The study notes that much of this content overlaps with AI-generated material, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between human-made low-effort videos and automated creations.
The spread of AI slop varies by region. Spain-based AI slop channels collectively hold more than 20 million subscribers, the highest total among countries studied, despite Spain having fewer such channels in its top rankings. The United States ranks third, with AI slop channels amassing over 14 million subscribers and nine appearing among the country’s top 100 most popular channels.
YouTube is not alone in facing this trend. Similar AI-generated and low-effort content has been appearing across social media platforms, including fake animal surveillance clips and bizarre, fabricated viral videos.
Kapwing’s researchers warn that the problem is unlikely to fade anytime soon. Easy access to AI tools and recommendation algorithms that prioritize frequent uploads and engagement over quality are continuing to fuel the growth of AI slop, raising concerns about the long-term impact on content standards and viewer experience.
