Consumers Are Losing Patience with AI Content – But Marketers Keep Investing

Consumers Are Growing Weary of AI-Generated Content – Even as Marketers Double Down

It was only a matter of time before the hype surrounding artificial intelligence in marketing met the cold, hard reality of consumer sentiment. A new report from Billion Dollar Boy paints a revealing picture: while marketing departments are investing more aggressively than ever in AI-generated content, audiences are showing unmistakable signs of burnout and distrust.

According to the report, a staggering 79% of marketers increased their AI budgets in the past year, betting big on the technology’s efficiency and scalability. Over the next 12 months, 77% of those surveyed plan to reallocate more of their advertising dollars from traditional influencer and creator campaigns toward AI-driven initiatives. For many in the industry, AI isn’t just a productivity tool – it’s the future of advertising. In fact, nearly three-quarters of marketers see AI not merely as a cost-saver but as an engine for growth heading into 2026. Still, 81% say its greatest value lies in cost control, while 73% argue that AI-assisted content already outperforms human-only campaigns in measurable outcomes.

Yet the audience reaction tells a different story. Once considered a novelty, AI-generated content has lost its initial charm. Just last year, 60% of consumers expressed enthusiasm for AI-created posts and videos. Today, that figure has plummeted to 26%. The primary complaint? The flood of what users have dubbed “AI slop” – bland, repetitive, and soulless material that clogs social feeds. This content often lacks the creative spark and emotional nuance that distinguish authentic human storytelling. The result is a growing fatigue – and in some cases, outright rejection – of what viewers see as manufactured engagement.

Still, not all is doom and gloom for marketers embracing AI. Despite the backlash, 38% of consumers acknowledge that AI-driven strategies can enhance overall content quality, and 41% believe they’ve improved diversity and representation in advertising. Interestingly, younger demographics – particularly those aged 25 to 34 – remain the most receptive, with around 40% showing a clear preference for AI-assisted campaigns. This suggests that while older generations crave authenticity, younger audiences are more open to experimentation and hybrid human-AI creativity.

Platforms like YouTube are accelerating this shift. Its new “edit with AI” feature allows creators to dramatically increase output, streamlining what used to be hours of manual work. However, this convenience comes at a price: feeds overflowing with nearly identical videos, formulaic thumbnails, and the same overused voiceovers. Many users describe the experience as “slop fatigue,” where endless low-effort videos dilute authenticity and even spread misinformation. One bizarre trend has viewers unknowingly consuming AI-generated history videos filled with factual errors – an eerie example of how quantity can crush quality.

The real lesson for brands and creators is clear. Artificial intelligence should serve as a creative co-pilot, not the pilot itself. When used to enhance human storytelling rather than replace it, AI can still be a transformative force in marketing. But the moment it becomes a substitute for genuine thought, emotion, and craft, the result is alienation – not engagement. Marketers who ignore that warning risk flooding their audiences with noise instead of meaning, accelerating the very fatigue they’re trying to overcome.