I’m Switching to AI Voices for My YouTube Content Starting August 2025

I’ve been making YouTube videos across multiple channels, covering topics from web development & everything tech related, to niche passions. It’s been a fun ride, but one thing has always been clear: YouTube was never my main focus. It was a creative outlet, a hobby that let me geek out over video creation, editing, and thumbnail design. But starting August 2025, I’m making a shift: I will no longer use my own voice in my videos. Instead, I’ll utilize AI-generated voices. This wasn’t an easy decision, and in this post, I want to dive into why I’m making this change, the complex journey that led me here, and what it means for my future as a creator.

A Decade of YouTube as a Creative Outlet

I’ve been making YouTube for more than 10 years, hopping between channels and topics without a strict plan. In the last 5 years, my content has centered on coding - raw, real-time programming sessions where I share my workflow as a full-stack developer. I never chased subscribers or monetization. For me, YouTube was about the joy of the process: filming, editing, and crafting visuals that pop. It was a side project, secondary to my primary career as a hands-on full-stack developer.

In recent years, YouTube also became a creative outlet to take a break from the intensive coding I often do on work projects. Even though I still record myself coding in real time, the video creation process -planning, filming, and editing - offers a refreshing change of pace from the focused, high-pressure coding I tackle professionally. But over time, I noticed something unsettling. Being a ‘YouTuber’, which I saw as a fun extension of my skills, gave some people an opening to misrepresent me.

The truth is, my YouTube presence didn’t inherently make me seem less professional - but it was used by people who wanted to paint me that way. They seized the opportunity to frame me not as a skilled developer but as an “unsuccessful YouTuber who hasn’t been able to grow her channel.” They conveniently decided that the area where I had less visible success must be my primary focus, ignoring the fact that YouTube was just a hobby.

My videos literally show me coding in real time, clear evidence of my expertise, yet some chose to twist the narrative to diminish my professional standing. This stung. I’d have people wish me “luck with my YouTube channel,” as if it were my main pursuit. It was baffling - my content was me building software, yet some acted like I was chasing YouTube stardom instead of excelling in my career. These comments, often from acquaintances or professional contacts, felt like they were rooting for a dream I didn’t have, while overlooking my actual achievements as a developer.

The Truth: My Career Speaks for Itself.

Reflecting on this, I’ve realized something crucial: I don’t need YouTube to prove my worth. My career as a full-stack developer stands on its own, with projects, collaborations, and contributions that showcase my skills. My videos were meant to share my workflow, not to build a personal brand or chase clout. But if they’re being weaponized to misrepresent me, they’re not serving the purpose I intended. I’ve also come to see that YouTube isn’t the right platform for me to “prove” anything.

For some, it’s a powerful tool to establish authority or grow a following. For me, it hasn’t been that. My channels never took off, and I’m okay with that - I wasn’t aiming for viral fame. I did it for the love of creating. But now, I’m letting go of any notion that YouTube might validate my expertise. My work as a developer does that just fine.

Will AI Voices Impact Quality or Viewership?

A natural question is whether switching to AI voices will affect the quality of my videos or reduce viewership. Honestly, I don’t think it will have a negative impact - and I’m even curious if it might boost my content. My channels have never garnered huge views, so I’m not worried about losing a massive audience. In fact, I’ve noticed that many videos using AI voices are thriving on YouTube, with polished, engaging delivery that resonates with viewers. I am inclined to think that the change might have a more positive than negative effect. I’m interested to experiment and find out.

But as someone who treats YouTube as a hobby, view count isn’t my top priority. What matters most is providing quality, accurate information in my content, especially in my coding workflows. I’m as devoted to that goal as ever and will continue to ensure my videos deliver value, regardless of the voice delivering the message.

The Voice Cloning Concern and My Big Decision

The final push for this change came from a growing worry about AI voice cloning. With AI tech advancing rapidly, anyone with enough samples of my voice could create a convincing digital replica. Having shared my voice freely on YouTube for years, I’ve essentially been handing out those samples on a silver platter. The risks are serious: a cloned voice could be used for scams, deepfakes, or other malicious acts, potentially damaging my reputation or harming others.

While I can’t erase all of my past content or fully protect myself, I can take steps to limit future risks. This wasn’t an easy call. I love making videos, and using my own voice has always felt personal and authentic. But the potential dangers of voice cloning outweigh the benefits of continuing to share my voice online. Switching to AI voices lets me keep creating while reducing the chance of my voice being misused. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a practical way to move forward with peace of mind.

What’s Next for My Content

As for my existing videos, I have set every video where I used my own voice to private. I may or may not re-edit them with new narration in the future - I’ll only do so if they remain relevant or if I find the time, but for the most part, I’ll focus on creating fresh content. After all, many may be outdated given how rapidly tech evolves and changes.

I’m not walking away from YouTube entirely. I’ll still make videos when the creative urge strikes - video creation is too much fun to abandon. I love the process of filming, editing, and designing, and I’m excited to keep exploring that. But from now on, every video will use an AI-generated voice. This change lets me protect myself while still sharing content on coding and other passions.

I’m eager to play with AI voices and see how they can enhance my videos. With so many options - from natural tones to unique styles - it’s a fresh creative challenge. I’ll keep making content without the pressure to grow a huge audience or turn my channel into a business. It’s still just a hobby, and I’m happy to keep it that way.

Final Thoughts

This shift to AI voices marks a new chapter for me as a creator. It’s bittersweet - letting go of my own voice feels like losing a piece of my authenticity, but it’s also empowering to take control in a world where AI is reshaping how we share ourselves online. YouTube has been a joyful outlet for over a decade, but it’s also shown me how easily a hobby can be twisted to misrepresent who I am. To anyone balancing a creative side project with a primary career, I hope my story resonates.

It’s okay to create for the love of it, without chasing what others perceive as “success.” Success isn’t measured solely by views, money, or external validation. It’s about what feels right to you, and everyone has the freedom to define what success truly means for themselves.

And it’s okay to set boundaries to protect yourself, even if it means rethinking how you share your work. For me, AI voices are a way to keep doing what I love while adapting to new realities. Thanks for reading this long post. If you’ve enjoyed my content (however small my audience may be!), I hope you’ll stick around as I navigate this change. Here’s to more videos, more creativity, and new possibilities.