YouTube's AI has been publicly criticized several times. The reasons for this were unjustified bans or rejected monetization of videos. Despite users' concerns, the YouTube CEO will be focusing even more on the use of artificial intelligence in the future.
Many YouTubers are still fighting against multiple bans where YouTube’s AI was at fault. Just recently, the massive platform came under criticism because the artificial intelligence had often imposed bans due to incorrect assessments.
Despite Critical Voices, YouTube’s CEO Pushes For More AI
CEO Neal Mohan explains in an interview with the Time that he wants to rely even more heavily on artificial intelligence in the future. For him, AI means more security and more possibilities for you as a user of the platform.
Creators have a different opinion on the matter. Especially because AI moderation has deleted numerous channels without any apparent reason.
For Mohan, increasing the use of AI is supposed to be the first step back to YouTube’s early days. A time when amateur videos and passion projects dominated the platform. According to him, the technology efficiently automates YouTube’s moderation process.
Several content creators have spoken out on the topic. Among them is Nani Josh, an animation channel with over 650,000 subscribers, which was only recently deleted for spam.
This number should terrify every creator on YouTube.
— Nani josh (@mister_manners_) December 11, 2025
Jan-Mar 2025: 2,897,659 channels removed
Apr-Jun 2025: 2,105,778 channels removed
Jul-Sep 2025: 7,456,811 channels removed
That's 12,460,248 channels deleted in just 9 months.
Twelve. Million. Channels.
Are we really... pic.twitter.com/ZHwxfnoMgh
In his post, the YouTuber addresses the rapidly increasing number of bans. More than 12 million YouTube channels were already banned from January to September. Nani Josh suspects the use of AI behind his case – and he is not the only one.
Several YouTubers Speak Up
Tech YouTuber Enderman had several channels with over 100,000 subscribers deleted. He is one of the many other content creators whose channels were banned for “spam,” “fraud,” or many other baseless reasons.
The only explanation left for the users is the increased use of AI. Despite the harsh criticism, YouTube announced that, at this point in time, there are no errors or bugs in the system. This is, to put it mildly, a misjudgment when you look at the numerous deleted channels.
For many YouTubers, livelihoods are being lost as a result. Many content creators whose channels are affected make YouTube videos full-time and are therefore losing their primary source of income.
YouTube Responds To The Criticism
The previously mentioned creator Nani Josh managed to elicit another response from the huge platform. According to YouTube’s own statements, more than 12 million channels were indeed terminated. However, this should not be equated with the number of YouTubers.
According to the platform, the terminated channels were part of a Southeast Asian scam wave. The animation YouTuber’s channel was also legitimately deleted, and apparently this decision is final. In the comments, Nani Josh responded with another automated message he had received from YouTube. To this day, he is still waiting for a proper reasoning for the ban.
You're right that over 12 million channels have been terminated this year, but it varies. For example, 20.5M channels were terminated in Q4 2023 alone.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) December 11, 2025
Channels terminated doesn't = Creators terminated, sometimes a scammy account can have hundreds of channels.
This quarter, the...
Users are meeting the statement with further resistance. YouTube, however, remains on its course towards more artificial intelligence and will continue to use it. The platform, which means creativity and entertainment for all of us and even a livelihood for some, seems to be heading in a direction that will have significant effects on its future.
Has your channel maybe been affected by AI as well? How do you feel about the use of AI? Feel free to share your opinion with us in the comments!