YouTube is preparing to overhaul its monetization rules — and AI-generated “slop” is squarely in the crosshairs. On July 15, 2025, the platform will roll out a significant update to its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) monetization policies, offering new guidelines on what content is eligible for revenue and what’s not.
While YouTube is positioning the changes as a “minor update” or clarification, the reality is more serious: the platform is responding to a flood of low-quality, AI-generated content that threatens to erode trust in the platform.
What’s Changing in the YouTube Partner Program?
YouTube’s updated policy will provide clearer definitions of “inauthentic” content, emphasizing the importance of originality, creativity, and human input. According to the Help documentation, content must be “original and authentic” to be monetized — something the platform claims has always been a requirement.
However, what’s new is how YouTube will now interpret and enforce these standards in light of AI-generated content.
The Rise of AI Slop on YouTube
What YouTube’s spokespeople aren’t explicitly saying is just how rampant AI-generated, low-effort content has become.
This growing issue is now widely referred to as “AI slop” — a term used to describe low-quality media produced using generative AI tools, often without significant human input. Common examples include:
- AI voiceovers on stock video and still images
- Automated text-to-video content repurposing news, true crime stories, or memes
- Channels pumping out AI-generated music that accumulate millions of subscribers
- Deepfake videos mimicking celebrities or public figures
One disturbing example? A true crime YouTube series that went viral earlier this year was found to be completely AI-generated, according to a report by 404 Media.
In another case, scammers used a deepfake of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan in a phishing scam — on YouTube itself — raising serious questions about the platform’s ability to police this kind of manipulation.
What YouTube Says — and Doesn’t Say
Rene Ritchie, YouTube’s Head of Editorial & Creator Liaison, published a video update downplaying the changes as a “minor update” to existing policy. He reassured creators that reaction videos and other derivative content won’t be affected — as long as they include significant original commentary or transformative editing.
But what Ritchie and YouTube haven’t acknowledged is how easy and profitable it has become to produce AI-generated videos. Many of these videos — some based on fake news events like the Diddy trial — have racked up millions of views, making money for creators and undermining the integrity of the platform.
Why This Update Is Really Happening
Make no mistake: This policy update is a response to a broader concern. YouTube risks becoming overrun by mass-produced, misleading, or entirely fake content, especially with generative AI making production faster and cheaper than ever.
Allowing this type of content to grow — and worse, rewarding it with ad revenue — threatens to damage YouTube’s reputation, trustworthiness, and long-term value. The July 15 update is likely designed to give YouTube the legal and operational clarity it needs to demonetize or ban “AI slop” creators at scale.
What Creators Should Do Now
To stay compliant and avoid demonetization:
✅ Ensure all content adds original value or commentary
✅ Avoid over-reliance on AI without human input
✅ Stay transparent about your content creation process
✅ Use AI tools as assistants, not content farms
If you’re repurposing content — whether it’s memes, music, commentary, or reactions — make sure you’re clearly transforming it into something new and engaging.
Final Thoughts
While YouTube may publicly describe this update as a small adjustment, it represents a turning point in the platform’s relationship with AI-generated content. The rise of synthetic media has forced YouTube to rethink what it means to be a creator in the AI age — and how to protect both its ecosystem and audience.
The message is clear: If your content is spammy, repetitive, or purely machine-made, your days in the YouTube Partner Program may be numbered.