The study tools 'PDF to Brainrot' represent a peculiar variant of a TikTok trend.

A certain trend known as "PDF to Brainrot" has emerged, driven by various AI-based study tools. This phenomenon allows students to upload documents to be read aloud over videos considered "extraordinarily satisfying," such as ASMR clips of paint mixing or gameplay footage from Minecraft and Subway Surfers. Students can listen to an automated voice reading their textbooks while watching these vertical videos, which are frequently referred to as "brainrot" content on TikTok.

On this platform, the combination of simple games and ASMR has gained notable popularity. However, it's not limited to clever jumps in Minecraft; robotic voices read dramatic stories, typically extracted from Reddit, where heartwarming tales are narrated, such as the reunion of an adopted adult with their biological parents. These accounts have amassed millions of followers, captivating viewers with their repetitive and relaxing content.

Companies and tools such as Coconote, Study Fetch, StudyRot, Memenome, Shortspilot, and Grademaxx are developing "PDF to Brainrot" generators. The logic behind this phenomenon is that if these videos are so popular on TikTok, maybe students will be willing to invest in them as study tools. Some of these apps, like StudyRot, offer the option to translate texts into a Gen Z language, allowing users to choose voices that reflect popular slang among young people online.

However, giving too much freedom to AI to modify the source text may not be the best study strategy, as this could lead to inaccurate summaries. Additionally, uploading content to AI tools that do not clarify whether they will train on that data is generally discouraged.

Despite the large number of available tools, the marketing behind some of them can be questionable. Tech products aimed at TikTok users are often promoted through videos on that very platform. However, some creators who appear to promote these products organically are actually dedicated accounts that do not disclose their relationship with the product. For example, one creator mentioned that their teacher recommended students use the Coconote tool to upload their readings, generating a video that reached a million views, even though their profile shows a clear pattern of undisclosed promotion of that tool.

Studies have noted that there are creators on TikTok who have genuinely found a niche by sharing study tips to help their peers navigate high school or college. Although these accounts date back more than a decade on Tumblr, the evolution of "studytok" has made it easier for suspicious accounts to camouflage themselves, presenting a legitimate appearance on student recommendation pages.

Questioning whether creators actually use "brainrot" videos to study, or if teachers really play video games to keep their students’ attention, one can also observe that often a TikTok trend is less about being a trend itself and more about the reactions to it. While some students may find PDF to brainrot tools useful, the idea behind these applications may reflect a more efficient way to process information, similar to listening to news podcasts while walking.

In summary, the popularity of these videos on TikTok may not stem from their simple components but rather from being disguised advertisements for AI tools.