A new Safari extension called Weedout automatically hides YouTube videos that carry the platform's AI-generated label. The project first appeared on Hacker News where it earned 38 points and 13 comments.
What It Is and How It Works
Weedout scans YouTube pages in real time and removes any video thumbnail or recommendation that displays YouTube's official "AI-generated" badge. It runs entirely client-side with no data sent to external servers.
The extension targets the specific DOM elements YouTube uses to mark synthetic content. Once installed, it applies the filter on both the homepage and watch pages without requiring user configuration.
Key Features and Limitations
- Works only in Safari on macOS and iOS
- Requires no API keys or accounts
- Updates automatically when YouTube changes its label markup
- Cannot hide videos that lack the official AI label
- Does not affect Shorts or live streams
Early testers on Hacker News noted the extension stays lightweight and does not slow page loads.
How to Try It
Visit the project page at https://masteranza.github.io/weedout/ and follow the one-click install link for Safari. After installation, grant the extension permission to access youtube.com.
No further setup is needed. Users can toggle the filter on or off from the Safari extensions menu at any time.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Zero configuration required
- Runs locally with no data collection
- Directly targets YouTube's own labeling system
Cons
- Limited to Safari users only
- Misses unlabeled AI content
- Dependent on YouTube maintaining consistent label markup
Alternatives and Comparisons
Several browser extensions block or filter YouTube content, but few focus specifically on AI labels.
| Tool | Platform | AI Label Filter | Local Only | Open Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weedout | Safari | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| uBlock Origin | All major | No | Yes | Yes |
| Enhancer for YouTube | Chrome/Firefox | No | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube Block | Chrome | No | Yes | Partial |
Weedout is the only option that reads YouTube's native AI badge rather than relying on keyword or channel blacklists.
Who Should Use This
Safari users who want to reduce exposure to labeled AI content without manual curation will find it useful. Researchers tracking synthetic media prevalence and viewers who prefer human-created videos both benefit.
Users on Chrome, Firefox, or Edge should skip it and rely on general blockers or YouTube's own "Not interested" signals instead.
Bottom Line / Verdict
Weedout delivers a narrow but effective solution for Safari users who want YouTube's AI labels enforced automatically at the browser level.
The extension fills a small but growing niche as platforms add more synthetic-content disclosures. Its continued usefulness depends on YouTube keeping the AI label visible and consistent in page markup.
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