YouTube updates its monetization policy to combat AI-generated content

YouTube has updated its Partner Program policies on July 15 to better address “mass-produced” and “repetitive” videos. According to a TechCrunch article by Sarah Perez, the changes aim to clarify what the platform considers “inauthentic” content. The update is a response to the growing amount of low-quality media created with generative AI, often called “AI slop”. YouTube liaison Rene Ritchie described the change as a “minor update”, emphasizing that such content has long been ineligible for monetization. Examples of this content include fake news videos or automated true crime series. The stricter policy allows YouTube to more easily remove such videos from its monetization program and protect the platform’s value.