Ever clicked on a YouTube video expecting something fresh and creative, only to be greeted by a monotone voice reading a script you swear you've heard a hundred times before? You're not imagining it, and you’re not alone in hating this trend. For the past year, YouTube has been flooded with what many now call ‘AI slop’ – videos churned out by bots with little thought or originality.

Fortunately, YouTube’s had enough, and the platform is drawing a big red line in the sand. Say goodbye to easy money.

Come July 15 of this year, YouTube will stop paying creators for content that it deems inauthentic or mass-produced. If your videos are clearly made by AI and add little value, don’t expect to earn a cent. This is a big shift, with dire economic implications. And it’s going to hit content creators hard.

AI tools have made it ridiculously easy to pump out videos. With apps like ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, and a few royalty-free clips, it’s child’s play to churn out videos using robotic narrators, uninspired footage, and content that feels empty, soulless, and devoid of anything that makes a real connection with its intended audience.

Dozens of these AI-made videos are posted daily, raking in small ad revenues that eventually add up. The strategy is simple: flood the platform, earn from volume. It doesn’t matter if the content is repetitive, copied from others, and bereft of added value. Even garbage earns money at the junkyard, after all.

But this flooding has a cost. Real creators – those with unique voices and stories – are often drowned out. And for viewers, sifting through this repetitive, soulless content is not only tiring but also time-consuming. God only knows how much YouTube has spent on storing, maintaining, and making these trash content available on their network.

In an update announced this year, YouTube said enough is enough. Starting mid-July, it will begin demonetizing “low-effort” AI content. That includes:

- Slideshows with little or no original commentary

- Synthetic voices reading generic scripts

- Content that copies trending topics without fresh input

- Reused material that offers nothing new

To be clear, this move doesn’t ban all forms of AI usage. Users can still tap AI to give them a little push in things like editing, captioning, or brainstorming. What YouTube is targeting are videos that feel like they were made on autopilot.

Moreover, creators must now disclose if their content includes AI-generated media (altered or synthetic content), especially if it seems realistic.

In the Philippines, YouTube is more than entertainment. With 57.7 million active users, it’s more than a place where people teach, sell, entertain, and earn. For those bleeding creativity but lacking in machinery, YouTube is a virtual stage where Filipino talent can be showcased to the world.

But wherever there’s money to be made, you can expect people to take advantage. A lot of creators, especially small ones, turned to AI tools to keep up with the content grind and exploit the opportunity. It’s cheaper, faster, and honestly, easier. But with these new policies, those relying purely on AI output will likely see their earnings vanish.

On the flipside, this could be good news for creators who pursue authentic, value-laden content rooted in real stories – especially local ones. There’s now more room for videos that reflect real Filipino voices, humor, and creativity.

With YouTube’s changes, here are some practical tips to keep earning:

1. Own Your Voice – Literally. Ditch the robotic narrators. Don’t be shy even if you think you’re unpolished; authenticity matters more than perfection.

2. Use AI as a Helper, Not a Replacement – AI could be a great assistant, but it’s not you, and you’re the creator. Show your perspective, personality, and unique take.

3. Tell Local Stories – Global trends are crowded. A way to stand out would be to focus on content that's uniquely Filipino – whether it's Cebuano humor, Bicolano food, or Manila street life.

4. Get Real with Your Audience – Don’t copy the highly-curated, tightly-controlled content of foreign acts. Be real. Be authentic. Engage with your audience like a real person – the algorithm likes that.

5. Stay Updated – YouTube’s rules are changing fast. Follow its official Creator Policy page, and keep tabs on updates.

YouTube’s new rule is clear: quantity won’t beat quality anymore. AI-generated junk may have had its moment, but people are craving realness again.

For Filipino creators, this is the perfect time to lean into what makes your content different. Your voice. Your story. Your community. That’s the kind of content that sticks and gets paid.

So if you’re still relying on shortcuts, this is your sign to pivot. AI won’t replace you if you bring something it never can: your humanity.