AI-Generated ASMR Videos Flood YouTube, Leaving Fans Unsettled and Seeking Sleep Elsewhere

Google's Veo 3, a generative video machine, has firmly established itself at the forefront of our new digital landscape, particularly on YouTube. From Harry Potter vlogs to man-on-the-street content and product unboxings, it appears that no type of content is safe from AI replication. However, the latest target of this "slop cannon" has hit close to home for many content consumers: AI ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). This development has left even the most tech-savvy observers, like Justine Moore, feeling overwhelmed and ready to sign any petition against it. Justine Moore, known for her meticulous tracking of AI-generated content since the launch of Veo 3, recently tweeted with a mix of resignation and exasperation: "Guys I hate to say it but the AI ASMR is only getting better." Her tweet includes a link to a video where AI-created hands delve into seemingly solid objects in a distorted version of popular “Is It Cake?” ASMR content, designed to be oddly satisfying. Watching such content can be unsettling, even to the point of desiring an AI-induced lobotomy. But why is AI ASMR so particularly distressing? Unlike other genres of AI-generated content, ASMR holds a special place for those who rely on it for relaxation and sleep. For instance, I turn to ASMR videos when insomnia strikes—a far cry from watching them for mere amusement. While I'm open to AI assisting in various aspects of life, such as booking rides, summarizing emails, and handling taxes, the idea of AI cradling me to sleep like a meat baby in a pod from The Matrix is a bridge too far. Unfortunately, in the realm of generative video, nothing seems sacrosanct. Renowned intellectual properties, Hollywood actors protesting their use in AI-generated content, and even the advertising industry, which is practically drooling over the potential to create intrusive commercials, have all fallen victim to the AI wave. So, it seems inevitable that ASMR would be next. In the face of this technological onslaught, I find myself preparing for the mechanical lullabies. Just do me a favor and wake me up when the high-speed train to Slopville reaches its final destination. Until then, I'll be searching for genuine, squishy macarons for a dose of real satisfaction.