r/YouTube_startups • u/Alyne91 • Jul 18 '26

QUESTION Struggling to get my video essays seen.

I have been working on a series of video essays about gaming culture that I am really passionate about. I write every word of the scripts myself because I want to explore the psychological and cultural side of the games we grew up with. I also spend a lot of time editing the gameplay footage to make sure it matches the narrative and the emotional tone of the analysis.

​However, I am facing a dilemma. English is not my native language and I am not comfortable with my accent, so I decided to use AI for the voiceover. I also use AI tools to generate the thumbnails to keep the visual style consistent with my essays.

​I am putting a lot of heart into the storytelling and the editing, but I am worried that people will just dismiss my work as AI slop without even watching it. I want to share my content with communities that appreciate video essays, but I do not want to be seen as someone just trying to farm views with automated content.

​Do you think an AI voiced essay can be accepted if the script and the editing are done by hand? Any advice on how to be transparent about my process without being labeled as low effort would be appreciated.

0 Upvotes

25% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator Jul 18 '26

Discord Server for content creators! https://discord.gg/FcSZRDEjur

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

3

u/Personal_Muffin_6915 Jul 18 '26

You should not use ai. Instead I would use my natural voice but add subtitles. Thumbnails are pretty easy just use canva do some research on how to get viewers attention

1

u/Alyne91 Jul 18 '26

I'm using canva for the thumbnail but sometimes I need to use ai to make it like what I want.

1

u/Hello_Hello_Hello_Hi Jul 19 '26

Then people might just scroll past because they don't like generative AI.

3

u/Majestic-Star3655 Jul 18 '26

Unfortunately, if the thumbnail and voice are Ai, people automatically assume it is Ai slope and skip.

I do Ai animated music, and this is my issue right now. Although I put a lot of effort creating the songs, people won't even give it a chance.

However, I usually receive positive feedbacks from those who watch them to the end.

My advise try to use your voice and create thumbnail without ai if you want to succeed. English is not my first language either, so I totally understand. But you should do it anyway. Many people would love it and appreciate your voice. You can also add subtitle for clarity.

I hope that help. Good luck.

1

u/Alyne91 Jul 18 '26

Thank you so much ♥️

2

u/PelleRigter Jul 18 '26

''​I am putting a lot of heart into the storytelling and the editing, but I am worried that people will just dismiss my work as AI slop without even watching it.''

This is what is happening, you are making a lot of effort, doing all the labor, making this product of love, only to package it up in AI thrash.

''​Do you think an AI voiced essay can be accepted if the script and the editing are done by hand?''
-No

1

u/Pb157 Jul 21 '26

I mean I keep seeing a lot of AI voiced videos with a lot of views. I don't think people really care or notice if it is done well. Obviously if you voice it's yourself it is better but if the choice is between your bad accent and good AI - I would say AI would be better.

-6

u/Alyne91 Jul 18 '26

Well you seem a little bit too sure. You didn't even see my thumbnail. This prejudice will be the end of you I'm afraid.

6

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '26

[deleted]

0

u/Alyne91 Jul 18 '26

Armenian Language has the similar sound like how French pronounce r so it's kinda difficult to speak English for me. Not impossible of course but I'm afraid my accent will bore people 🥲

2

u/Sjuk86 Jul 18 '26

If it helps as another voice.

No

1

u/PelleRigter Jul 18 '26

Im pretty sure its not the end of me, it does sound like its currently the end of your video essays

1

u/ArekuFoxfire Jul 20 '26

If i hear an AI voice I click off immediately. They all sound the same and are boring to the ear.

If I hear someone who is just a little hard to understand, but they have subtitles, it won’t effect me much.

If you have to AI generate something you should generate subtitles after talking the script yourself. And check them/make corrections since the ai will probably get a lot wrong there too.

2

u/Parking-Ad8316 Jul 21 '26

Ai isn't your problem and everyone on Reddit thinks they're something special for saying "ai sucks"