When I search YouTube for videos related to my topic of research that I would consider pretty obscure, 95% of the videos are completely AI-generated, with ChatGPT scripts, AI-generated thumbnails, etc. It makes it really difficult to find video sources, so I have mostly given up on finding good information of YouTube nowadays.

For more general topics (smartphone reviews, food, fashion, and other topics that have a wider audience) the abundance of AI-generated videos makes sense. Pumping out thousands of videos that thousands of people will watch and earn a lot of money. But the videos on more obscure topics rarely get many views and there doesn’t seem to be much of a reason for them to exist except to piss on people trying to find non-AI-generated sources.

For reference, I am looking for sources for a Physics research project on observed baryon asymmetry in the universe and the different proposed mechanisms to explain it, such as leptogenesis and ew baryogenesis. I am very surprised that topics like baryon asymmetry, CP violation, neutrinos, etc. are filled with AI slop to such an extent. It’s kind of insane. Who’s doing this, how are they doing this, and why???

  • Lumidaub@feddit.orgEnglish
    711·
    1 day ago

    It doesn’t matter that these niche topics don’t get many views because making them these videos requires no effort. They’re throwing everything at the wall and some of it will stick, even if it’s just for a little while.

    Also, they want to drown out legitimate sources.

    Edit: clarity.

      • Lumidaub@feddit.org
        151·
        1 day ago

        The people making loads of AI slop videos. Or what are you asking? I don’t have any names.

        • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
          13·
          1 day ago

          Yeah, I’m just curious who you suppose the people in question might be. Just a random distribution, or could there be some type of pattern there?

          • GenosseFlosse@feddit.org
            71·
            22 hours ago

            Everyone who wants to make money from YouTube ads. I don’t think there is a big conspiracy to discover here.

            • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
              13·
              22 hours ago

              Let’s rewind a bit, shall we? I wasn’t expecting any conspiracy theories, but when the commenter above stated:

              Also, they want to drown out legitimate sources.

              That sounded like an interesting assertion, possibly hinting at a group-level effort, which is why I asked them. Thanks for adding in your opinion, I guess.

          • Lumidaub@feddit.org
            51·
            1 day ago

            Wait. Did you interpret “they” as “((((they))))” or something? ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

            • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
              12·
              1 day ago

              Haha, it felt a bit shades of ((((they)))), yes. Anyway, I was just curious if you had any particular group in mind.

              It’s not a significant question, so no worries!

              • Lumidaub@feddit.org
                41·
                1 day ago

                Good lord, I was wrecking my brain about what you were even saying, hah. I know nothing about the makers of AI slop videos other than that they fucking annoy me but anyone suggesting that they’re somehow all members of any one specific group of people can fuck right off.