A recent study has found that a growing portion of videos recommended to first-time YouTube users is made up of what researchers call “AI slop.”

According to the study, over 20 per cent of content suggested to new users consists of low-quality, AI-generated videos created mainly to attract clicks and views.

The rapidly expanding sector is estimated to generate about $117 million in annual revenue across major social media platforms, the Guardian reports.

Researchers also identified 278 of the world’s most popular YouTube channels as being entirely dedicated to this kind of content, with a combined total of more than 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers.

The researchers said the channels attract large audiences across several regions, including Spain, Egypt, the United States and Brazil.

Many of the videos appear to target children using bright, eye-catching animations, while others feature surreal or loosely structured scenes with anthropomorphic animals or superheroes.

The study found that some creators use artificial intelligence to generate what it described as “uncanny” portrayals of natural disasters, such as large-scale flooding, often accompanied by soothing background music.

It also noted that much of the industry is driven by creators based in middle-income countries, including India, Nigeria and Kenya, where income from YouTube can surpass local median wages.

According to the report, these videos are engineered to maximize viewer watch time and advertising revenue.

YouTube says its recommendation systems are designed to link users with high-quality content, whether produced by humans or generated with AI tools.

Critics, however, contend that major platforms function as “A/B testing machines,” favouring content that performs well with algorithms instead of promoting originality or craftsmanship.