Video-editing company Kapwing has found that over 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube users consist of low-quality, AI-generated content designed primarily to maximize views. The research analyzed 15,000 of the world’s top YouTube channels, examining the top 100 channels in each country, and identified 278 channels comprised entirely of AI-generated material. Researchers created a new YouTube account and discovered that 104 of the first 500 recommended videos were AI-generated content, with roughly a third classified as “brainrot”—low-quality material designed to monetize attention.
The AI-generated channels identified in the study have collectively attracted over 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers worldwide, generating an estimated $117 million in annual revenue. The content reaches audiences globally, with particularly significant followings in Spain, where these channels have attracted 20 million subscribers—nearly half the country’s population. Other countries with substantial audiences include Egypt with 18 million subscribers, the United States with 14.5 million, and Brazil with 13.5 million subscribers.
The findings highlight growing concerns about content quality on YouTube as AI tools make it increasingly easy to produce and distribute automated videos at scale. The prevalence of AI-generated material among recommendations to new users suggests the platform’s algorithm may struggle to distinguish between authentic content and algorithmically optimized material designed primarily for view maximization rather than viewer value.