TL;DR
- Some YouTube Music users are finding their recommendations increasingly filled with AI-generated tracks they don’t want.
- Reddit complaints show that the “thumbs-down” and “Not interested” options barely help, with the same synthetic artists reappearing in mixes and autoplay.
- This persistent influx of artificial music is frustrating subscribers who feel they aren’t getting the curated experience they pay for.
- YouTube Music lacks transparency and filtering options for AI-generated content, unlike some competitors.
- Users are resorting to manual playlist curation or considering switching to other streaming services.
5, 2026 – YouTube Music is grappling with a problem that strikes at the heart of why people pay for music streaming: revelation. Instead of delivering carefully curated recommendations, the service is reportedly surfacing more and more AI-generated tracks that listeners haven’t asked for, leaving even long-time subscribers feeling annoyed.
Complaints have been piling up on Reddit, where one YouTube Music user said their recommendations are being flooded with “AI slop” (via piunikaweb). These tracks typically come from unfamiliar artists with extensive catalogs and generic titles, dominating recommended playlists.
The situation is particularly frustrating because simply tapping “Not interested” or giving a track a “thumbs-down” doesn’t seem to solve the problem. At best, it removes a single song, but similar AI-generated tracks quickly take its place.
In some instances, users report the same synthetic artists repeatedly appear across different mixes and autoplay sessions. For those paying for a premium service, this feels like a broken promise.
Like other streaming platforms,YouTube Music relies on algorithms to suggest new songs and keep listeners engaged. The recent surge in generative AI has made it easier then ever to create music quickly, resulting in a flood of tracks that technically meet upload requirements but lack the nuance and personality of human-created music.
The issue isn’t necessarily the existence of AI-generated music, but the lack of transparency. Users have noted that other music services are more forthcoming about identifying AI-created content. Some have experienced similar issues with Spotify, while others believe Apple Music handles recommendations better. Deezer has even begun tagging or managing AI-generated tracks.
Currently, youtube Music doesn’t offer listeners a straightforward way to filter out or avoid AI-generated music.
For now, the only workaround is to meticulously curate your own playlists. Some users are so frustrated they’re considering switching to choice services or building offline music libraries to regain control over their listening experience.
