Videos created using artificial intelligence are flooding social media platforms and generating substantial revenue for their creators, despite widespread criticism of the low-quality content. John Ruwitch reports for NPR.
Mark Lawrence I Garilao, a 21-year-old computer science student from the Philippines, earns up to $9,000 per month creating simple animated videos featuring a kitten character. His YouTube channel “FUNTASTIC YT” has nearly 600,000 subscribers and almost 500 million total views.
Garilao produces one or two videos daily using ChatGPT for character rendering and KlingAI for video creation. Each clip takes one to two hours to complete and features brief, often nonsensical storylines about an adventurous kitten and his father.
Critics call this content “AI slop” because it appears mass-produced and repetitive. “AI is really superpowering spam,” says Jason Koebler from tech news website 404Media. He argues that high-volume AI content makes it harder for traditional creators to gain visibility.
Adam Bumas from newsletter Garbage Day believes these videos exist purely for algorithmic engagement rather than creative expression.
Social media platforms are beginning to address the surge in AI content. TikTok and Instagram now label certain AI-generated material, while YouTube recently expanded its policy against “repetitive” content to include “inauthentic” content.
However, platforms remain cautious about outright bans. YouTube simultaneously encourages AI use through built-in features, and experts suggest companies envision a future where most online content is AI-generated.