Why YouTube appears softer on AI ‘slop’ than music platforms: a business-model explanation

The useful part

Spotify is working to protect its legit artists against AI slop (Image credit: Every week or so, a different music platform tightens its AI policy just that little bit tighter. Apple Music have also introduced a 'Made With AI' label, while TIDAL has cut AI tracks off royalties entirely.

How it works

• Up until now, long-form videos needed to be watched for around 10 to 30 seconds, before a public view was registered.
• It's enforcement after the fact, applied to channels that have already been uploaded, recommended and, in some cases, watched by millions.
• From the point of view of its business, the more videos, more watch time, more slots to sell against, the better...
• Registering a view the instant playback starts rewards precisely the thing AI slop is best at: getting a thumbnail clicked.
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What to take from it

Creators are fuming, because they believe it will reward exactly the kind of low-rent AI slop that's already flooding the system. Music platforms are being overwhelmed with AI slop, listeners hate it, and the companies are taking action. So you'd expect the same dynamic, logically, to be playing out in online video.

Example or evidence

• Since 24 August, though, YouTube is registering a view the moment playback begins.
• Why do they not seem to be cracking down on AI slop in the way the music platforms are?
• The answer, I think, lies in the very different way the two camps make their money.

Details worth keeping

If Apple and Spotify are cracking down on AI slop, why can't YouTube? There are many more examples, but the direction of travel is clear. YouTube Watch On That might sound like a small technical change.

Related coverage

• Ajournalofmusicalthings: All the streaming music services are being hit with a deluge of AI slop that no one asked for. Deezer, the Paris-based streamer, is the most transparent about the problem. Over at Spotify,
• Breitbart: Spotify announced this week that it will begin labeling artists whose personas are, a move driven by user frustration with profiles for artists that appear human but are not.
• Blackenterprise: YouTube, LinkedIn, and Substack have introduced or expanded systems this summer to identify, label, or limit the distribution of certain content.
• Creativebloq: Turns out infinite content isn't necessarily a good thing.
• Creativebloq: Some artists think there's an easier solution.