Good find or AI slop channel?

[ballsystemlord]

Hello,
So I found a new YT channel for EE stuff. https://www.youtube.com/@High_SNR_Channel/videos
It looks like they are using AI to generate some of their content, and the guy's voice seems to change between clips.
I'm uncertain if he's just using AI, as is common, or if his content is recycled from other articles you can read elsewhere on the subject, or if he's just an idiot using AI to gen everything.

What do you think? Genuine good channel find, recycled content channel, or AI slop channel?

Thanks!

[John B]

I had a skim through and I'm leaning towards slop.

Within the first 10 seconds it sounds like AI wrote the script. I view that as basically the minimum threshold below which the content is unwatchable slop.

In contrast, here is a channel that I think does it well: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreDumpped

I think this creator does a good job with writing the content, even though they use AI for the voice. Maybe they aren't a confident speaker, don't have a radiogenic voice, or perhaps English isn't their first language.

[Unixon]

AI slop by structure, 100%.

The problem is, some people use AI for assistance to prepare content, but provide genuine ideas behind the script, vocalization and visualization support.
And... and it's getting harder and harder to distinguish between the grades of AI assistance.

[KE5FX]

I watched their MOSFET video and thought it was reasonably well done.  I'm not one to reflexively dismiss AI-produced or -enhanced content, though, as long as it's technically accurate and the potential to learn something new is there.  AI has a long way to go before it can compete with the sheer amount of useless slop delivered by human YouTubers. 

One reason I try to resist prejudice in this regard is simply that so much of the world doesn't speak English.  Now those people have a powerful tool that can help them participate in English-language discourse.  More voices are better, all else being equal.  It's not all "slop."

Another reason is that it's blatantly obvious that we won't be able to tell the difference in another couple of years.  Might as well run up the white flag, stop worrying, and learn to love HAL.

[Unixon]

stop worrying, and learn to love HAL.

STM32 HAL? 

[ballsystemlord]

I watched their MOSFET video and thought it was reasonably well done.  I'm not one to reflexively dismiss AI-produced or -enhanced content, though, as long as it's technically accurate and the potential to learn something new is there.  AI has a long way to go before it can compete with the sheer amount of useless slop delivered by human YouTubers. 

One reason I try to resist prejudice in this regard is simply that so much of the world doesn't speak English.  Now those people have a powerful tool that can help them participate in English-language discourse.  More voices are better, all else being equal.  It's not all "slop."

...

I'd just like to clarify that this isn't a matter of prejudice.

It's a question of efficiency, in terms of reading being faster than watching, so I'd prefer reading the article(s) this came from instead of watching. And in terms of quality, as in an actual EE will be better able to know what to cover and in what depth to cover the material vs. an AI. (EDIT: And that assumes that the information the AI is giving you is correct.)

There's also a concern about theory/AI-images vs. reality. I tend to like seeing videos of EE related topics because I can actually see the circuit and see the measurements in progress. Books on EE, at least all the ones I've seen, cover exclusively theory. All resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc., are perfect. This is great when doing math calcs on circuits, but not very good when trying to do something in the real world in many cases. Even if you want to do the math, a lot of the time you'd end up using spice anyway, so just having an AI draw something isn't too useful.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I consider this question solved.

[KE5FX]

stop worrying, and learn to love HAL.

STM32 HAL? 

Stop, Dave
Stop

[coromonadalix]

good one  AI ....

[wilfred]

Another reason is that it's blatantly obvious that we won't be able to tell the difference in another couple of years.  Might as well run up the white flag, stop worrying, and learn to love HAL.

You can't give up. I'll be expecting the use of AI to be openly disclosed on everything. If I suspect the use of AI and it isn't disclosed then I will mark it down as deceptive.

As far as AI use in YT videos goes I will regard anything as slop that is quickly made without the obvious creative input of a human to give it a reason for existing. Especially if it is exploiting someone else's original work simply for profit.

But if a video is created by someone and they use AI to aid communication for my benefit or because they need it for a variety of reasons then I'm OK with it provided they say so.

It would be good if the use of AI negatively impacts YT (et al) profits and therefore motivates them to cancel YT accounts that are turning viewers away. I for one really don't want to be getting slimed by a tsunami of AI slop.

[ME]

As soon as i see a channel using undeclared ai i give a thumbs down then click dont recomend channel , everyone needs to do the same, ai made dross is all over yt like dogshit on a path!.

[Simmed]

1 look and my instant reaction = is its trash
dont have to click in and watch anything

[KE5FX]

You can't give up. I'll be expecting the use of AI to be openly disclosed on everything. If I suspect the use of AI and it isn't disclosed then I will mark it down as deceptive.

Sorry, but that won't be your call to make.  Simply because you won't be able to tell.

Not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, it's just reality.  All the incentives are aligned in that direction.

It would be good if the use of AI negatively impacts YT (et al) profits and therefore motivates them to cancel YT accounts that are turning viewers away. I for one really don't want to be getting slimed by a tsunami of AI slop.

If shorts don't turn people off of YouTube, and evidently they don't, then neither will AI.