Weedout: Safari Extension to Filter AI-Labeled YouTube Content

Weedout filters YouTube content based on official AI labels

Weedout is a Safari extension for macOS designed to remove YouTube videos that carry the official "Made with AI" disclosure badge. The tool targets AI-generated content across multiple surfaces of the YouTube platform, including the home feed, search results, related videos, playlists, and Shorts shelves.

Key Features and Functionality

  • Comprehensive Filtering: The extension removes AI-labeled videos from primary discovery areas and provides an optional auto-skip feature for AI-labeled videos within the Shorts player.
  • Dim Mode: To prevent accidental over-blocking, a "Dim mode" is available that wilts (dims) videos in place rather than removing them entirely, allowing users to verify the label before deciding to trust the filter.
  • Privacy-First Design: The extension operates entirely on the local Mac device with no account requirements, no tracking, and no data collection.
  • Deterministic Detection: Detection is based strictly on YouTube's own "Made with AI" disclosure badge. The developer states that the tool does not use heuristics or guessing, meaning unlabeled AI content (often referred to as "slop") remains out of scope.

Community Feedback and Technical Considerations

Users on Hacker News discussed the efficacy of relying on platform-provided labels, noting that the accuracy of these labels is often inconsistent.

Label Accuracy and False Positives

Several users pointed out that the "Made with AI" label does not always correlate with low-quality "slop." Some creators use AI for minor elements (such as title screens) while maintaining high production value, leading to legitimate content being filtered out.

I’ve found that the AI label doesn’t necessarily mean AI slop, it just means there’s a non zero amount of AI in the video.

Additionally, there are concerns regarding false positives where non-AI animated or cartoon content is mistakenly labeled as AI by YouTube's automated systems.

The Challenge of Unlabeled AI Content

Because Weedout relies on official labels, it cannot detect AI-generated content that creators choose not to disclose. Users noted that the "Made with AI" label is often self-reported by authors, meaning those producing low-quality spam are less likely to label their content accurately.

Platform Availability and Alternatives

While Weedout is built for Safari on macOS, the community highlighted a demand for cross-platform support. This led to the creation of a community port for Firefox known as "Herbisight."

Summary of User Perspectives

Perspective User Viewpoint
Pro-Filter Users seeking to reclaim their feed from "uncanny valley" content and AI-generated voices.
Skeptical Users concerned that the filter removes high-quality human-assisted AI content or misses fraudulent, unlabeled AI spam.
Platform-Centric Users arguing that YouTube should provide native toggle filters for AI-generated content.

Sources

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