Fake AI Influencers and Industry Plants: We’re So Cooked!
In episode 278 of Heavy Metal Philosophy, Jon Barbas tells four short stories that reveal the current state of our society. As if influencer culture wasn’t bad enough, now we have AI producing even worse versions of it. These stories will illustrate the reality of our current situation, but don’t worry, I have good news: a white pill, if you prefer… AND a killer new extreme metal band to showcase! Subscribe and let me know what you think!
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#AI #Influencer #IndustryPlant
@salgymbro7624
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
I'm getting so sick of AI.
@Antiomnis
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
If capital can take the worker out of the process, it will.
The solution – wealth caps, market control, socialism generally.
There is no competition, when your labour is stolen from you. This is the inevitable result of capitalism.
And it is the end of creativity.
@atra-umbra
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Yeah… about a year ago I did a deep dive into your first few videos. 😂
You're SO much better these past few years that I've been watching.
Regarding these videos made using pattern predictors (I don't call it A.I. anymore) – it's possible that #YouTube is making them so they can keep the money for themselves.
This is also my theory about all the #Spotify music made by LLMs.
@jml8238
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Wait a minute…..
We're so cooked, but the kids are alright?!?
@MikeOnMetal
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Wow, who knew there was this much drama in the heavy metal / guitar YouTube world. Crazy. So looking forward to the No Cure album. Saw them open for Cattle Decap earlier this year and was an instant fan! Aesop is a beast of a player!
@J_Z913
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
I think youtube sometimes forgets why its platform is valuable to advertisers. It has to curate content in a way that people like so that ads reach the right audiences. If youtube continues to allow AI and plagiarized content, people will eventually stop trusting the things they see on here. That's not something that's good for their bottom line in the long term.
@raoulduke8003
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Just got my HEARS today!
@Skwott
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
youtube won't even allow me to create a youtube channel for my band… youtube has gone to shit.
@gavintshepho9606
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Nice Gaerea Shirt
@TheAlderbaran
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Agreed. Rick Beato also did a video on the "bass" guitar scam. So much he used Gemini to determine and show how the video was made.
You sir, are flesh and blood and extremely passionate about the music you love: Metal.🤘🤘🤘
@andyWalks22
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Hate this influx of ai rubbish on YouTube, half of what is in my algo must be generated slop, why would YouTube think I want to watch that stuff?!? I think YouTube is gonna get gradually worse and worse because of this and their algorithm tweaking of my feed.
Your channel and a few others are part of the few I watch now, sick of the slop
Keep up the good work man, love the channel
@Mgranadosv
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
John AI Barbas with the dyed hair spitting facts!
@SeanKelly-v8e
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Everyone is accusing everyone of using AI these days. I got accused of using AI in my writing, which is absolutely false. Zero evidence, just wanted to be a sanctimonious jackass.
@themetalmeltdownofficial
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
The only thing I hate more than an influencer is an AI influencer
@SHREDBEARD696
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Man that’s highway robbery bro
@SHREDBEARD696
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
“ no I don’t dye my hair “ 🤘🏼🤘🏼💪🏼💪🏼😂😂😭😭
@MarkTerlep
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
That AI is creepy YouTube should automatically take it down
@olekallovvild7295
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
No one is interested in "developing", it's all about instant reward, instant money, instant s3x😂
@CraigMader
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
THIS is what is destroying your local water and jacking up your power bills. Flash in the pan AI slop factories and the people that sell using them.
@twincitiesfox
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Love the discussion on how the evangelicalists are co opting the language of intersectionality
@iain2059
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Anyways keep the videos coming jon i have found and brought about a dozen of the albums that have featured on your channel over this past year and i look foward to collecting more 😊
@Mike_Moth
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
I wonder what lures I can use to go fishing for a nice 6-string bass? Looking to upgrade from my current largemouth bass.
@RicNasty00
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
The general public needs to realize that not everyone was meant to be in the spotlight or should have influence on anyone. Also, fuck A.I. Also, Elon Musk is John Conner
@cbradquillen
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Fucking fuck, we're all fucked. 😞 taking my boy to see Maiden, I'll let you know how the earplugs work out for him. Edit: Smh. 😡
@Obssy
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
It's disgusting, dude. Intellectual theft apologists, absolute bottom of the barrel in terms of morals. We must stay vigilant when it comes to these parasites.
@JosephFitzharris
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
AI is hot garbage. Has a grumpy Gen X'er I long for the simpler, honest days of yesteryear. What really p's me off is this crap trying to pass has legitimate artists. Check out YouTube on new release day and you'll see this stuff trying to cash in on Metal (looking at you Rust Wanderers) Very timely topic, Cheers dude 🤘🤘🤘
@markstewart515
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Good video Jon. While i am not a fan of Yungblod's music he does seem like a nice guy.
@HoracePinker2026
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Who is yungblood?
@Robert-g4u5e
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Great video I love your take on this
@winstonwins1096
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
I have only see actual real flesh and blood content creators get demonetized and accused of being AI.
A lot of horror creepypasta narrators and writers.
I dont really believe Youtube wants to do anything tangible to stop this.
These rich pricks have so much invested in this AI slop crap.
@JulioAndres-666
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
2:05 Somebody had to say it. Seems like people stopped believing in a god and now they worship whatever lying politician they like.
@OvenTender
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Slappin the shat out of the AI algo, and gonna rock the new shirt this Thursday at invocation ritual, and acerbic show in portland. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
@Johnny.Tomahawk
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Dude i knew you were ai!!
@Durantx8817
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
I remember last year going to see Thrown live and got there early enough to see No Cure as a 2nd opener. IMMEDIATELY hooked me with "Dont Need Your Help" and now I've seen them every chance I get. I gotta admit… the vocals take some getting used to but the RIFFS are THICC and Heavy
@oracleofwater
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
YouTube has had a credibility problem for a while unfortunately, given the popularity of debunking channels. The deepfakes are problematic, and as AI get better I don't think there's going to be an easy solution beyond some sort of social trust network for creators.
@PersephonevanderWaard
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
This is like a remake of The Thing. Creepy! In all seriousness, I've contemplated using YouTube for more than sharing my older work or conversational videos, and frankly I find it hard to justify the effort; i.e., when so much of the platform is enshittified to steal and copy from people in the most literal ways imaginable.
@SoloGetHykt
July 9, 2026 at 4:00 am
Yeah YT needs to crack down on all this AI ripping off channels, using channels’ clips in different accounts. Like the Joe Rogan ones. And examples like this, copying other channels. It’s like Elsa Gate, but for adults.