YouTube is expected to make changes to its monetization policy on Tuesday, which appears to be targeting “fraudulent” content. This change may be intended to help viewers slow down the flooding of AI-generated content on the platform, in order to make it easier for viewers to find higher quality videos.
The company said, “On July 15, 2025, YouTube updated its guidelines to better identify mass-produced repeat content.”
In a follow-up video message, video creator, YouTube editor and creator liaison Rene Ritchie said, “This is a minor update to YouTube's long-standing YPP (YouTube Partner Program) policy, downplaying the impact it has on creators that helps them better identify when content is rich or repeated.
Richie said the content type has already been transformed into a demo, something users call spam.
On Thursday, YouTube said, “There is confusion about Hi Creators, the minor YPP update coming July 15th, and we want to share more information and answer the top questions we've seen.”
The post reiterates that YouTube is creating updates to its long-standing “recurring content” guidelines rather than creating new policies. The post says this does not apply to reused content that adds “an important original commentary, modification, educational or entertainment value to the original video.”
YouTube only has superficial differences between them and channels that upload slide shows, all with the same narration, as an example of a “mass-produced content” channel where you upload narrated stories.
What is not mentioned in the posts or videos is that YouTube is fighting the issue of AI-generated videos, particularly “AI slops,” which are less valuable to users, but is flooding social media networks and platforms. Although YouTube guidelines do not specifically mention AI slops, it appears that some of the examples of “modified or synthetic content” include several types of AI-generated videos.
The problem with proliferation of AI content has become so bad that John Oliver recently dedicated his entire HBO show episode to the rise of AI slops. (You can also find it on YouTube by chance.)
