Thousands of digital course creators build their businesses through online courses, and many choose YouTube to host their videos because it’s free and easy to use.
However, a recent revelation has brought to light a major issue that’s making course creators reconsider using the platform: their videos are being used to train Google’s artificial intelligence models.
In this article, we’ll explain why this is a serious concern and what is the best alternative to YouTube for securely hosting your video content.
Google Confirms: YouTube Videos Are Being Used to Train Its AIs
A report published by CNBC on June 19, 2025, confirmed that the tech giant is tapping into YouTube’s library of 20 billion videos to feed its next-generation AI tools.
According to the report, just 1% of this catalog already surpasses 40 times the data volume used by competitors like OpenAI.
Two tools are being powered by these YouTube videos:
- Gemini: Google’s language model competing with Claude and ChatGPT.
- Veo 3: An AI video generation tool that recently created a commercial aired during the NBA Finals.
Why This Is a Problem for Content Creators
It’s no secret that YouTube has access to all the content uploaded to its platform.
But when it comes to AI, things take a different turn.
By allowing your course to be used to train AI models, you’re essentially giving away your knowledge, methodology, and teaching style for Google’s algorithms to learn from.
If AI can generate high-quality educational content based on what it learns from millions of courses, what does that mean for your business?
Other Drawbacks of Hosting Courses on YouTube
Beyond the AI concern, YouTube comes with other limitations for those selling online courses:
Distractions That Break Student Focus
On YouTube, your students are constantly interrupted by:
- Ads
- Suggested videos
In both cases, YouTube can show content from a competitor, potentially causing your student to leave the lesson before finishing.
Vulnerability to Piracy
YouTube offers no real protection against unauthorized downloads and redistribution.
There are several tools and methods available that allow people to download videos—even those marked as unlisted.
Dependence on an External Platform
Relying on YouTube means you’re at the mercy of their policies, technical issues, or automatic removals for so-called “violations.”
Your videos could go offline overnight without any warning.
Also read: YouTube Issue: Reddit Users Report Errors When Watching Videos
Why Panda Video Is the Best Alternative to YouTube for Hosting Courses
Panda Video is the ideal platform for hosting online courses if you want security, control, and the right tools to engage students and boost your sales.
Check out our standout features:
Advanced Anti-Piracy Protection
With security features that actually work, you can protect your videos from downloads and digital piracy.
Unlike YouTube, where basic tools can extract your content, Panda Video uses DRM technology to keep your material truly safe.
Video Player for Courses and Sales Videos
Our video player is 100% customizable to fit your needs—whether for lessons or promotional videos.
You can adjust the colors, choose which buttons appear, and craft an experience that’s fully aligned with your brand—without any ad interruptions.
AI-Powered Features
At Panda Video, artificial intelligence works for you—not the other way around.
You can activate our AI chatbot to learn from your video content.
This transforms it into a virtual assistant capable of answering student questions directly within the video player.
You can also use AI to generate complementary materials, subtitles, and voiceovers.
Start Migrating Your Courses from YouTube to a Secure Hosting Platform
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely realized that hosting your courses on YouTube poses an unnecessary risk to your business.
Your videos are feeding AI models that could become your competition, your content is vulnerable to piracy, and your students are constantly distracted.
Migrating to a professional platform like Panda Video is easier than you think:
- Create your free account on Panda Video
- Upload your videos to the platform
- Customize your player for lessons and sales content
- Replace YouTube links with your new ones
Don’t let years of hard work building your course fuel Google’s AI.
Protect your content, enhance your students’ experience, and take full control of your business.
Try Panda Video free for 14 days and see how professional hosting can transform your results.
