Looks like YouTube Music isn’t immune to the AI slop dilemma hitting streaming services. Users are noticing a surge in AI-generated tracks invading their recommendations.
Some YouTube Music users are beginning to feel like the so-called “dead internet theory” is becoming a reality. Complaints about AI-generated music infiltrating personal playlists and recommendations are growing among these users. This shift follows similar frustrations expressed by Spotify listeners, who have also been grappling with AI content taking over their music suggestions.
The issue emerged prominently on Reddit, where a user named vlastawa shared their experience of receiving overwhelming amounts of AI-generated tracks in their recommended feed. They noted that out of ten recommendations in their YouTube Music New feed, six were identified as AI-generated. The user expressed frustration, stating, “The other day, every other song in my auto-generated playlist was AI slop. Clicking ‘I’m not interested’ or giving a thumbs down doesn’t help since it only applies to the specific song, not the artist, who seems to prioritize quantity over quality.”
Additional comments from other users suggest a troubling trend. Some reported that their “new releases” section often consists of 60-75% AI-generated music, with multiple new tracks from a single creator appearing simultaneously. Genres like blues are reportedly particularly saturated with these AI creations, raising concerns about music quality and authenticity.
Interestingly, some users speculate that merely searching for or engaging with an artist suspected of producing AI-generated music might trigger YouTube Music’s algorithm, leading to even more AI content in their recommendations. This feedback loop could worsen the issue, as users unknowingly signal their interest in AI tracks.
While not every YouTube Music user appears to be impacted, the complaints are notable and point to a broader problem with the algorithm’s handling of music recommendations. For now, many users are turning back to local libraries and manually curated playlists to avoid the AI slop currently flooding their feeds. As these concerns continue to surface, it’s clear that many are eager for a return to more authentic music experiences.