Online video editor Kapwing released a study that examined 10,742 TikTok clips across 20 popular categories and the first 500 videos shown to a brand‑new account. It found that 59% of those TikTok videos are clearly AI‑generated, a level the researchers call “AI slop.” The same methodology identified 21% of YouTube videos as AI‑made.

The problem spikes in children’s content. Within the #CartoonKids tag, Kapwing recorded 97% AI‑generated videos, leaving only three human‑made clips out of a hundred. Related tags #cartoons and #babysong hit 83%, while #forkids reached 79%. The study only counted videos with unmistakable AI scripts or voiceovers, so the true share may be higher.

Kapwing notes that AI slop peaks for users with no watch history, meaning platform algorithms currently favor quantity over quality. Creators can adjust settings to suppress AI content, but the incentive structure continues to reward flood‑type uploads. As AI tools become more accessible, the proportion of low‑effort video will likely keep rising.

For advertisers, the surge of AI‑generated clips complicates brand safety checks, forcing reliance on third‑party verification tools. Platforms may need to tighten detection algorithms or redesign recommendation engines to prioritize authentic creator content. Until such measures take effect, consumers will continue to wade through a flood of algorithmic filler masquerading as original video.