The Rise of AI-Generated Viral Content: Funny Kitten Videos or Annoying ‘AI Slop’? A Look into the Debate on Social Media

The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in social media content is evident to any casual observer. From whimsical to bizarre, many videos being created with AI technology are garnering significant attention online.

In the realm of YouTube, a channel named FUNTASTIC YT has gained popularity for its series of animated kitten adventures, each characterized by brief, often nonsensical, and humorous vignettes. One such video features a kitten inquiring about swimming in a rainbow goo-filled pool, resulting in the father cat’s comical predicament of being stuck within the pool.

While these videos showcase AI technology’s distinctive traits – colorful animation and computer voiceovers – they are gaining traction, with one video alone amassing over 2 million views. The kitten’s escapades extend to adventures on a pancake blimp or a car made of cola, and swimming in a pool filled with gummy bears, all under the watchful exasperation of his father.

Critics argue that these AI-generated videos fill social media feeds with low-effort content and clutter, serving no creative, informative, or educational purpose. Adam Bumas from Garbage Day Tech Newsletter notes, “AI is really superpowering spam.” The objective being to engage with the audience, gain likes, comments, shares, and potentially go viral.

However, Mark Lawrence I Garilao, the creator of these kitten clips, sees it differently. He considers creating AI videos as a creative outlet using new technology. A 21-year-old computer science student based in the Philippines, he produces one to two clips daily, each revolving around the kitten and his father. Each video takes approximately one to two hours to produce, utilizing ChatGPT for character rendering, KlingAI for video creation, and other software for editing.

The content is primarily aimed at entertainment, but it also generates substantial income. YouTube owner Google’s AdSense program pays channel owners based on viewership, and Garilao reported earning $9,000 in a single month. This income surpasses the expected entry-level salary upon graduation.

Other channels churn out videos at a rapid pace to capitalize on views. The high volume of AI-generated content is causing concern among creators like artists and photographers who rely on human creativity for their work. Critics like Jason Koebler from 404Media argue that discoverability on the internet is collapsing due to the engagement algorithms favoring AI content.

Some AI videos also spread misinformation, such as fake celebrity rescue clips during the Texas floods in July. Others tap into popular trends for increased engagement, like incorporating “Italian brainrot” meme characters into cat videos to boost views.

Social media platforms are acknowledging the challenge posed by AI-generated content but have yet to implement strict policies against it. TikTok and Instagram now label certain AI content, while Meta allows AI-generated content that adheres to community standards. Users can personalize their feeds on Facebook and Instagram to avoid unwanted content. TikTok has rules against AI deepfakes, and YouTube recently updated its policy to bar repetitive or inauthentic content from generating revenue.

It remains unclear how these updates will impact AI-generated content in practice. Casey Fiesler, a tech policy and ethics professor at the University of Colorado, notes that the policy change does not explicitly target AI-generated content.

Simultaneously, YouTube is encouraging video creators to leverage AI features for enhanced content creation. However, Koebler from 404Media suggests that social media platforms are not taking a firm stance against AI content due to their investment in its potential future growth.

Despite the critics, Garilao’s channel has amassed nearly 600,000 subscribers and boasts nearly 500 million collective views. While initial criticism about his content used to bother him, he now acknowledges and appreciates viewer engagement.