Several AI-based learning tools are capitalizing on the “PDF to Brainrot” trend, including ASMR clips of mixing paint and cutting soap, and Minecraft gameplay footage that are “oddly satisfying.” Read the text of the document you uploaded over the video. Subway Surfers. Students can then listen to an automated voice reading the textbook while watching these vertical videos. This video is often referred to as “brain rotting” material by TikTok users.
Simple yet engaging gameplay and ASMR videos are strangely popular on TikTok. But it’s more than just aimless Minecraft parkour. They are overlaid with a monotonous computer-like voice that recites dramatic stories, such as one in which an adopted adult is reunited with his birth parents. Dramatic stories usually come from Reddit. These accounts garner millions of followers and draw viewers into strangely relaxing and repetitive footage.
That’s why companies and web tools like Coconote, Study Fetch, StudyRot, Memenome, Shortspilot, and Grademaxx are launching “PDF to Brainrot” generators. If these videos are popular on TikTok, students will probably pay to make them as part of their studies. tool.
Some tools, such as StudyRot, are trained to translate text into Gen Z slang (you can choose from sounds such as “Sam Sigma,” “Gabi Gat,” or “Sara Skibidi.”) , refers to a somewhat meaningless word popular among young people (who spend a lot of time online). However, giving the AI too much freedom to manipulate the source text is probably not a good learning strategy, as it may result in inaccurate sums. Did Odysseus really have Liz or was he a Sigma male? (Plus, it’s generally not a good idea to upload content to an AI tool that doesn’t explicitly say it can train on that data.)
The sheer volume of tools that exist to do this is impressive, but the marketing behind some of these tools is questionable. If a tech product is targeting people on TikTok with Brainrot content, it makes sense to post a promotional video on TikTok. However, in some cases, the creators who appear to be promoting these AI products organically may not actually be real creators, but dedicated accounts that show no connection to the product.
One creator posted a video about a teacher asking her class to upload their measurements to Coconote’s Brainrot tool. This video has been viewed 1 million times and looks authentic, but if you look at its creator’s page it appears that all the videos she has posted on Coconut Sponcon are private. Study Fetch also has several creators who only post about the app’s AI tools and do not disclose whether they are paid to share these tips. Several other accounts exclusively promote a tool called Feynman AI. This tool does not appear to have Brainrot functionality, but it follows a similar trend of appearing in unpublished ads. These accounts don’t seem to be illegal, so they generally don’t have a lot of followers, but that doesn’t matter if one viral TikTok can make a difference and get viewers to check out paid learning apps.
Some creators on TikTok have actually found a niche in posting study tips to help them pass high school or college. These types of accounts date back to Tumblr in the early 2010s. There, the “studyblr” blog shared SAT tips and inspirational images of color-coded history summaries. But a genuine “studytok” makes it easier for suspicious accounts to camouflage and appear authentic when their videos appear on students’ For You pages.
Are these creators really using Brainrot videos for studying? Are teachers actually playing Subway Surfers videos during class to get students’ attention? TikTok trends are… Sometimes it is actually a reaction to a trend rather than the trend itself. Remember when the FDA was warning you not to eat NyQuil-infused chicken, when no one was actually eating NyQuil chicken?
For some students, the PDF to Brainrot tool can actually be useful. This concept is similar to how it’s easier to go for a walk or listen to a news podcast than just read the news. Sometimes people find it easier to focus on two things than just one. But when it comes to the popularity of these videos on TikTok, perhaps the real brain-turner isn’t Minecraft parkour, but rather thinly veiled advertisements for AI tools.
