An Indian YouTube channel is making tens of crores of rupees by posting low-effort, AI-generated videos. This trend, known as “AI slop”, is rapidly changing how we watch videos online. It also raises serious questions about the quality of content and how the digital economy is regulated.
A recent global study by video-editing platform Kapwing has found that the most-viewed YouTube channel producing so-called “AI slop” content is based in India. The channel, Bandar Apna Dost, is estimated to generate about $4.25 million a year, or roughly ₹35–38 crore, despite being launched only a few months ago.
The report analysed nearly 15,000 of the world’s most popular YouTube channels and identified hundreds that consist entirely of AI-generated videos. These videos are typically created using artificial intelligence tools with minimal human input and are designed to maximise clicks, watch time, and repeat viewing, rather than offering structured narratives or original storytelling.
According to Kapwing, at least 278 channels fall squarely into this “AI slop” category. Collectively, they have accumulated more than 63 billion views and over 221 million subscribers, signalling a major shift in how content is being produced and consumed on the platform.
Bandar Apna Dost tops the list by a significant margin. The channel features short animated clips revolving around an anthropomorphic rhesus monkey and a muscular, Hulk-like character placed in exaggerated, often chaotic scenarios. Despite the absence of dialogue, plot or context, the channel has recorded over 2.07 billion views and gained more than 2.76 million subscribers.
Technology and digital rights researcher Rohini Lakshane told The Guardian that the channel’s appeal likely lies in its absurd visuals and hyper-masculine tropes. The lack of storyline, she noted, makes the content easy to consume and accessible to viewers regardless of language or cultural background.
Kapwing’s study also raises concerns about YouTube’s recommendation systems. It found that more than 20% of videos suggested to new users on YouTube can be classified as AI slop, suggesting that algorithms may be favouring engagement metrics over quality or originality.
Industry observers warn that the growing dominance of mass-produced AI content could crowd out independent creators and thoughtful programming, particularly as automated videos are cheaper, faster and easier to scale. At the same time, the runaway success of channels like Bandar Apna Dost shows how AI-generated content, when optimised for algorithms, can attract massive global audiences and generate significant revenue—posing complex questions about the future of creativity in the digital age.
