Two major headlines dropped this week – and they both send a loud, clear message: AI alone is not enough.

YouTube is overhauling its monetisation rules starting July 15th, aiming to curb the flood of low-effort, AI-generated content. Channels built on synthetic music, deepfake news, and recycled visuals are being stripped of revenue if they don’t meet new standards of authenticity.

McDonald’s and its AI-powered hiring system exposed personal data from up to 64 million applicants – all due to a security flaw and a password as weak as “123456.”

In both cases, the problem wasn’t the use of AI. It was the lack of ethical infrastructure, poor data security, and outdated approaches to trust and transparency.

What Went Wrong?

YouTube’s new policy reveals how platforms can’t keep monetising quantity over quality without risking user trust. At the same time, McDonald’s data leak shows how AI systems built on weak foundations can cause real harm to real people.

These are not niche issues. They’re signs that businesses need to re-evaluate their entire digital strategy – not just the tools they use, but how those tools are designed, secured, and experienced by users.

Why Infrastructure Matters – and Why Unyted Is Different

At Unyted, we believe the solution isn’t just better content moderation or stronger passwords – it’s a smarter foundation.

That’s why our platform is built on Web4 infrastructure:

• Decentralised by design, giving users ownership and control

• Secure and GDPR-compliant, with no third-party access to your data

• Immersive and collaborative, enabling meaningful interaction rather than flat content feeds

• Ethically monetised, with tools for creators and organisations to build sustainable business models – not just ad-driven systems

We’re not here to patch a broken system. We’re here to offer a better one.

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’re exploring how to build a digital product that people actually trust and use – Read the full UX Design for Gen Z – Report 2025 for a deeper dive into monetisation, ethics, design, and future-proof business strategy.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Business?

We’re offering free consultations to help businesses rethink their digital strategy – from infrastructure to UX, monetisation, and trust. Book your free consultation here.