It’s a familiar story: every few weeks, music platforms tighten their AI policies, labelling and banning AI-generated content. But not YouTube. The video giant, it seems, values clicks over content quality, allowing AI-generated slop to thrive. Why the difference? It all comes down to business models. Spotify and Apple Music rely on subscriptions, where every stream is a slice of the revenue pie. For YouTube, ad revenue thrives on views, regardless of quality. So, while music platforms prevent AI-generated content, YouTube rewards it, registering views the moment playback begins. Follow the money, and you’ll see why.
The consequences are clear: AI-generated videos flood the platform, rewarded for mere engagement. Meanwhile, creators and subscribers suffer. It’s a stark reminder that in the digital age, quality isn’t always prioritised. Yet, it’s not just about content; it’s about the very fabric of the internet, where quantity can sometimes overshadow substance.
