Ankara: A new research has found that over 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube users are low-quality content designed to increase views, known as 'AI slop.' Video-editing company Kapwing analyzed 15,000 of the world's top YouTube channels-covering the top 100 in each country-and found that 278 of them comprise solely AI-generated slop.

According to Anadolu Agency, collectively, these AI slop channels have attracted over 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers, bringing in an estimated $117 million in annual revenue. The researchers also created a new YouTube account and found that 104 of the first 500 recommended videos were AI slop, with roughly a third classified as 'brainrot' - low-quality, attention-monetizing content.

The channels found by Kapwing are watched globally, and attract millions of subscribers worldwide, including 20 million in Spain-nearly half the country's population-as well as 18 million in Egypt, 14.5 million in the US, and 13.5 million in Brazil.