An Indian YouTube channel built entirely on low-effort AI-generated videos reportedly earns tens of millions of rupees a year, showing how AI is rapidly changing the consumption of online content — and raising questions about quality, regulation and creator sustainability.
A recent global video editing platform study Kapwing found that the most watched YouTube channel producing so-called “AI slop” content is based outside India. The canal, Bandar Apna Dost, is estimated to generate about $4.25 million annually, or thereabouts ₹35-38 crore despite being launched only a few months ago.
The report analyzed 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 intervention and are designed to maximize clicks, watch time and repeat views rather than offering structured stories or original narrative.
According to Kapwing, at least 278 channels fall into this “AI slop” category. Together, they have amassed over 63 billion views and over 221 million subscribers, signaling a major shift in the way content is produced and consumed on the platform.
Bandar Apna Dost leads the rankings by a significant margin. The channel features short animated clips revolving around an anthropomorphic rhesus monkey and muscular Hulk-like figures placed in exaggerated, often chaotic scenarios. Despite the absence of dialogue, plot, or context, the channel has received over 2.07 billion views and gained over 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 story, she noted, makes the content easier 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 could be classified as AI slop, suggesting that algorithms may prioritize 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, especially as automated videos become cheaper, faster and easier to scale. At the same time, the success of channels like Bandar Apna Dost shows how AI-generated content, when optimized for algorithms, can attract massive global audiences and generate significant revenue, raising complex questions about the future of creativity in the digital age.
