YouTube AI Policy Monetize or Not | Can AI Videos Earn Money On YouTube?

 

Yes, AI-generated videos can earn money on YouTube, but there are important policies and guidelines to follow.¹ YouTube's stance is that AI should be used as a tool to enhance creativity, not to replace it entirely or to create low-effort, repetitive content.²

Here's a breakdown of YouTube's AI policy and how it affects monetization:

Key Principles for Monetization of AI Videos:

1. Originality and Value: Your AI-generated videos must offer original content and provide value to viewers. Simply taking AI-generated content and uploading it without significant editing, commentary, or creative input is likely to be rejected for monetization.

   • What works: Using AI for voiceovers in well-edited and engaging videos, AI for enhancing video quality (upscaling, color correction), or using AI-generated visuals with human narration and storytelling.³
   • What often gets rejected: Mass-produced, templated, or repetitive AI-generated content with no human touch, or AI-narrated videos lacking original insights.⁴

2. Human Creativity and Involvement: YouTube wants to see human creativity and effort in the content. While AI can assist in various stages of video creation, completely automated videos with minimal effort are generally not eligible for monetization.⁵ The more unique and edited your content is, the better your chances.

3. Adherence to YouTube Partner Program (YPP) Requirements: To monetize, your channel must meet the standard YPP requirements:

   • 1,000 subscribers⁶
   • 4,000 valid watch hours in the past 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views)⁷
   • Follow all YouTube monetization policies, Community Guidelines, and Google AdSense program policies.⁸

4. No Reused or Duplicative Content: YouTube has strict guidelines against reused content, which includes:

   • Videos that copy and paste AI-generated content with little to no editing.
   • AI-narrated videos without original insights or commentary.
   • Repetitive AI-generated visuals or text-to-video clips lacking a human touch.⁹ The key is to "transform" the content in a meaningful way if you're using elements that weren't originally yours.

5. Transparency and Disclosure: YouTube now requires creators to disclose when their content is "meaningfully altered or synthetically generated" if it appears realistic.¹⁰ This disclosure won't limit a video's audience or impact its eligibility to earn money, but consistent failure to disclose can lead to penalties, including content removal or suspension from the YPP.¹¹ This applies especially to content that:

   • Makes a real person appear to say or do something they didn't do.¹²
   • Alters footage of a real event or place.
   • Generates a realistic-looking scene that didn't actually¹³ occur.

How to Increase Your Chances of Monetization with AI Videos:

• Add your unique spin: Use AI to generate elements, but add your commentary, editing, storytelling, or educational value.¹⁴
• Focus on high-quality content: Even with AI, prioritize creating engaging, informative, and visually appealing videos.
• Choose a good niche: Some niches lend themselves better to AI-assisted content (e.g., narrative, documentaries, research-based videos).
• Optimize for search: Use AI tools to research keywords and create strong titles, descriptions, and tags.¹⁵
• Engage with your audience: Build a community around your content, as this demonstrates genuine viewership.
• Be aware of copyright: Ensure the AI tools you use allow for commercial use, and avoid AI-generated music or visuals that infringe on existing copyrights.

In summary, while AI can be a powerful tool for content creation on YouTube, successful monetization hinges on using AI responsibly, creatively, and in a way that adds clear value and originality for the viewer, while adhering to all of YouTube's content and monetization policies.