I was thinking about something today that feels small on the surface — but could have a real impact for creators, educators, and anyone who shares content online.
You’ve probably seen how tools like Copilot or other AI assistants can now watch YouTube videos and podcasts for you. They summarize what’s said, highlight the main topics, and let you skip ahead to the parts you care about.
And honestly? That can be super helpful. Podcasts go long. Videos ramble. People are busy. I get why folks use it.
But I also see the downside.
As a teacher and a content creator, I worry about how this kind of summarizing affects the people behind the content — especially on platforms like YouTube, where watch time equals income. If an AI tells you what the video says before you even click play, creators could lose views, engagement, and ultimately, revenue.
And then there’s accessibility. Some creators might try to block AI by removing captions, since that’s often what AI tools read from. But if you eliminate captions, you’re locking out a huge group of viewers — especially those with hearing impairments or who need subtitles to follow along.
So we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place: creators want control, platforms want convenience, and viewers want speed.
One possible middle ground? AI could still provide timestamps and topic markers — like "They talk about X at the 5-minute mark" — without summarizing opinions or full arguments. That way, the tool still helps users find what they're looking for, but it doesn't take away the incentive to actually watch or listen.
It’s not about being anti-AI. Like I said, this is a good tool. But like any good tool, it can be misused if we're not careful. Creators deserve a say in how their work is consumed — and we shouldn't have to sacrifice accessibility to get there.
Something to think about.
Prof. Rock
Here’s a previous article I wrote about the evolution of classroom technology. Enjoy!