I Tested 3 Tools on AI Viral Prediction. The Results Weren’t What I Expected.

We’ve all chased the dream: that one video that catches fire and changes our channel’s trajectory. But chasing it often feels like stumbling in the dark, hoping to get lucky while the algorithm works in mysterious ways. It’s an exhausting cycle of brainstorming, guesswork, and chasing trends.

So, when AI tools emerged promising a smarter path, I had the same question you probably do: Can they really predict what will go viral? Is the idea of an AI crystal ball just hype, or can it finally end the guesswork?

So, I decided to put the entire concept of AI viral prediction to the test. I took three popular AI tools and gave them a simple mission: help me find a viral video idea.

In this guide, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly what happened. We’ll explore what AI can and can’t do, but more importantly, I’ll give you the actionable framework for using these tools to stop guessing and start building a high-potential content strategy for 2025.

Table of Contents

1. Virality is Chaos, AI is Pattern Recognition
2. The Test: Can AI Find a Viral-Worthy Idea?
3. Testing Tool 1 VidIQ Data Driven Trend Spotting
4. Testing Tool 2 Morningfame Personalized Opportunity Score
5. Testing Tool 3 ChatGPT Creative Brainstorming Partner
6. The Verdict on AI Viral Prediction: Can It Really Be Done?
7. The REAL AI Secret Increasing Your Probability of Virality (5 Strategies)
8. Building Your AI Toolkit for High Potential Ideas
9. Implementing the Strategies A High Potential Idea Workflow
10. Final Thoughts AI is Not a Crystal Ball, It is a Force Multiplier
11. Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Virality is Chaos, AI is Pattern Recognition

True virality is notoriously hard to predict because it’s a chaotic mix of variables:

• The Algorithm: A complex, ever-changing system that personalizes recommendations.
• Cultural Moments: Tying into social moods or trends that appear and vanish quickly.
• Human Psychology: Viewer preferences are fickle and driven by emotion.
• Competition & Quality: A great idea can be drowned out by noise or fail due to poor execution.

Given these factors, a 100% guaranteed prediction is impossible. However, AI’s power isn’t in prediction; it’s in pattern recognition. While it can’t see the future, it can analyze vast datasets to identify high-potential topics, emerging trends, and content gaps that dramatically increase the probability of a video performing exceptionally well. It finds the patterns in the chaos.

2. The Test: Can AI Find a Viral-Worthy Idea?

To explore AI’s capability in finding ideas with viral potential, I selected three types of AI powered tools often used by creators for research and brainstorming. My goal was to see how each tool approached the task and whether their suggestions or analysis felt genuinely aligned with finding topics that could go beyond incremental growth to truly break out.

The three tools I tested were:

1. VidIQ: A leading YouTube SEO and analytics tool known for keyword research and trending topic detection.
2. Morningfame: An AI powered SEO tool focused on personalized keyword opportunities based on a channel’s specific authority.
3. ChatGPT: A powerful general purpose AI model capable of creative brainstorming and text analysis.

I focused the test on smart home gadget reviews, aiming to see if these tools could move beyond simply suggesting topics to actually indicating a high probability of viral reach. I used each tool independently, following its core function related to idea generation or trend spotting, looking for suggestions that felt like they had breakout potential, not just steady search traffic.

3. Testing Tool 1 VidIQ Data Driven Trend Spotting

VidIQ excels at providing broad market data and identifying trending topics across YouTube. Its Daily Ideas feature and trending video sections are designed to highlight popular or emerging content.

My Goal with VidIQ: Spotting a Wave Early:
I used VidIQ’s “Daily Ideas” feature set to my smart home tech niche and looked for ideas tagged as having “high” potential or “trending.” I also explored the “Trending Videos” section for my niche to see what was currently performing well. I specifically looked for topics with high search volume and reasonable competition, or those showing rapid growth in viewership.

What VidIQ Actually Showed:
VidIQ provided numerous keyword ideas alongside their specific data points. For instance, it identified “Smart Home Security Systems for Apartments” with a global search volume of 80,000 and a “medium” competition score, suggesting existing interest. It also pointed to a video titled “Smart Fridge Hacks You Didn’t Know About” that had spiked from 50,000 to 500,000 views in two days, indicating a sudden surge in interest around smart kitchen appliances. Other suggestions included “Affordable Smart Lighting Ideas” and “Best Smart Plugs for Energy Saving,” complete with search volume and competition metrics.

My Takeaway: So, is VidIQ the crystal ball I was looking for? Not even close. It didn’t point to a magic topic. Instead, it acted like a high-powered market analyst, showing me where the audience’s attention was already gathering. It confirmed demand, which is crucial, but it left the creative spark entirely up to me.

4. Testing Tool 2 Morningfame Personalized Opportunity Score

Morningfame’s unique angle is analyzing your specific channel’s authority to find keyword opportunities where you have the best chance to rank, even if the overall competition is high. I wanted to see if its “Opportunity Score” could signal viral potential for my channel specifically.

How I Used Morningfame for Viral Potential:
I used Morningfame’s keyword research workflow. I input broad topics related to my smart home tech niche, and then evaluated the personalized “Opportunity Score” for the keyword suggestions Morningfame provided. I looked specifically for keywords with a high score (indicating a strong chance for my channel to rank) and evaluated their suggested search volume. I wondered if a high opportunity score combined with decent search volume could be a signal for potential breakout.

What Morningfame Actually Showed:
Morningfame successfully identified keywords where my specific channel, based on its existing authority, had a realistic chance to rank on the first page, even for topics that might seem competitive overall. For example, while “Smart Lock Installation” had high overall competition, Morningfame scored it an “A” for my channel, with an estimated search volume of 60,000, because my channel had a few existing videos on home security that gave it an edge. Other personalized “A” rated opportunities included “Automating Blinds with Google Home” (35,000 search volume) and “Smart Home Hubs for Beginners” (50,000 search volume), all tailored to my channel’s content clusters.

My Takeaway: Morningfame was different. It felt more like a personal coach than a market analyst. It didn’t promise virality; it promised a fair fight. It showed me the specific keywords where my channel could actually land a punch and get seen. This wasn’t about a viral lottery ticket; it was about finding a strategic opening.

5. Testing Tool 3 ChatGPT Creative Brainstorming Partner

ChatGPT is a versatile AI model capable of generating ideas, outlining content, and brainstorming creative angles. I wanted to see if it could take broad topics and spin them into highly compelling, potentially viral video concepts or hooks.

How I Used ChatGPT for Viral Potential:
I fed ChatGPT trending topics and high opportunity keywords from VidIQ and Morningfame (e.g., “Smart Home Security Systems for Apartments,” “Smart Fridge Hacks”) and asked it to generate viral worthy angles, titles, hooks, or script outlines. For example, I might prompt it: “Brainstorm 10 creative, attention grabbing angles for a YouTube video about ‘Smart Home Security Systems for Apartments,’ aiming for virality. Focus on common fears or surprising benefits.” Or: “Write 5 powerful hooks for a video about ‘Smart Fridge Hacks You Didn’t Know About’ designed to maximize watch time and shares, using curiosity.”

What ChatGPT Actually Showed:
ChatGPT generated creative concepts and hooks that were often far more engaging and unique than standard keyword based ideas. For the “Smart Home Security” topic, it suggested angles like “The SECRET Smart Home Security Flaw Nobody Talks About” or “I Lived in a Smart Apartment and Here’s What Almost Got Stolen (and How to Prevent It).” For the “Smart Fridge Hacks” topic, it offered hooks such as: “Your Smart Fridge is HIDING These 5 Life Changing Features” or “Are You Using Your Smart Fridge WRONG? Maximize Its Potential!” It provided different narrative structures, suggested emotional hooks, or proposed counter intuitive takes that felt fresh and designed to pique curiosity.

My Takeaway: Honestly, this was the most exciting part of the test.

ChatGPT felt like the creative partner I always wanted. I gave it boring keywords, and it handed me back irresistible hooks and intriguing story angles. It was the first time during the experiment that I felt that spark of “Ooh, this could actually work.”

But I quickly realized this partner has a major blind spot: it’s locked in a room with no windows. It has no idea what’s happening in the real world of YouTube. It was guessing, just like me, but with a much bigger vocabulary. So its role isn’t prediction; it’s provocation. It provokes you to think of better, more interesting ideas, but you still have to bring the data to know if those ideas have a real chance of survival.

6. The Verdict on AI Viral Prediction: Can It Really Be Done?

Based on my tests and the current capabilities of these tools in 2025:

No, AI cannot predict your next viral YouTube video with certainty.

The tools tested did not provide a magical “This video will go viral” button or analysis. Virality is still too dependent on unpredictable human behavior, the dynamic algorithm, and external factors that are beyond AI’s predictive power in this context.

However, this does not mean AI is not incredibly valuable in the pursuit of viral growth. The test revealed something crucial:

AI tools cannot predict virality, but they can provide data driven insights and creative assistance that significantly increase your probability of creating high potential, breakout content.

They are not a crystal ball; they are sophisticated tools that help you make smarter decisions, identify opportunities with higher likelihood of success, and package your content in ways that appeal to a wider audience. In the next section, I’ll share the 5 core strategies to do just that. I’ve compiled all of them, plus advanced prompts, into a free downloadable guide, the AI Creator Stack, to help you put this into action.

7. The REAL AI Secret Increasing Your Probability of Virality (5 Strategies)

The true secret to using AI for viral growth is to shift your mindset from prediction to increasing probability. AI helps you make calculated bets and execute your strategy more effectively. Here are five strategies to do that:

Strategy 1 Combine AI Data with Niche Expertise

Use AI analytics tools (like VidIQ) to identify what is trending or has high search volume in your broader topic area. Then, combine this data with your own niche expertise and understanding of your specific audience (gained from community interaction and empathy analysis Strategy 3 in our other post). Find where the data intersects with what your unique audience cares about and what you are uniquely qualified to speak on. AI provides the broad data; your niche expertise finds the specific, high potential angle within that data that resonates with your community.

Strategy 2 Use AI for Trend Early Detection

Instead of jumping on trends when they are already saturated, use AI tools (like VidIQ’s trend features or by analyzing keywords showing rapid growth in Morningfame) to spot topics as they are emerging. Combine this with monitoring discussions in relevant online communities (Reddit, forums using AI analysis). Being slightly ahead of the curve with high quality content on an emerging trend dramatically increases your probability of capturing momentum and potential virality as the trend peaks. AI helps you see the wave forming; your speed gets you on your board early.

Strategy 3 Mine Comments and Communities with AI

Your existing viewers are a direct line to high potential ideas. Use AI comment analysis tools (as discussed in our Comment Management post) to identify frequently asked questions, recurring problems, or passionately discussed topics within your own comments section or related online communities. Ideas that come directly from audience pain points or curiosity have a higher probability of resonating and being shared because they address a real need. AI helps process the volume to find those hidden gems.

Strategy 4 Optimize the Packaging AI for Clickability

A potentially viral topic needs a killer package to get clicks. Use AI writing tools to brainstorm highly compelling, curiosity driven titles and hooks (like those tested from ChatGPT). Use AI design tools to create thumbnails that are visually striking, on brand, and trigger clicks in the feed by effectively using color, text, and composition. AI helps you generate multiple options and refine your packaging to maximize that critical initial Click Through Rate (CTR) that signals value to the algorithm.

Strategy 5 Leverage AI for Cross Platform Momentum

Virality often spreads across platforms. Use AI powered repurposing tools to quickly transform your main video into compelling short clips optimized for TikTok, Shorts, and Reels. Create highly clickable graphics for Instagram or Twitter using AI design tools. Drive traffic back to your main video from these platforms. AI makes cross platform distribution efficient (mention your Repurposing post here). Momentum on one platform can spill over, increasing overall visibility and contributing to breakout potential.

8. Building Your AI Toolkit for High Potential Ideas

Implementing these strategies requires a suite of AI tools covering different functions:

• Analytics and Trend Tools: For identifying what is popular, emerging, and competitive (VidIQ, Morningfame).
• Creative Brainstorming Tools: For generating unique angles, hooks, and content ideas (ChatGPT, Copy.ai, Jasper AI, Gemini 2.5 Pro).

• Optimization and Packaging Tools: For creating clickable titles, descriptions, and thumbnails (AI writing tools, AI design tools).
• Engagement and Analysis Tools: For mining audience comments and understanding community needs (General AI models, potential specialized tools).

• Repurposing Tools: For quickly creating content for other platforms (Repurpose.io, Opus Clip).

You do not need every tool at once. Start with free trials or free tiers to see which types of AI assistance best help you find and develop high potential ideas.

9. Implementing the Strategies A High Potential Idea Workflow

Integrate AI into your idea generation and planning process with a structured workflow:

1. Weekly Research Session (AI Analytics & Trend Tools): Dedicate time each week to use your AI analytics tools. Look for trending topics, keyword shifts, and analyze what performed well in your niche. Identify patterns and potential emerging trends.
2. Niche Dive (AI Comment Analysis): Periodically use AI to analyze comments on your videos and in related online communities. Identify recurring questions, problems, or topics people are passionate about.
3. Brainstorming (Generative AI): Combine the data from your research and niche dive. Feed potential topics, trending keywords, and audience questions into AI writing tools. Ask for unique angles, controversial takes, surprising facts, or compelling hooks designed to grab attention and spark discussion.
4. Idea Filtering (Human + AI): Review the AI generated ideas. Select the ones that resonate most with your passion, your channel’s niche, and the insights you gained from audience analysis. Use AI (e.g., sentiment analysis) to gauge potential audience reaction to different angles if possible.
5. Packaging Refinement (AI Writing & Design): Once you select a high potential idea, use AI tools to refine your video title, brainstorm compelling hooks for the intro, and design a visually striking thumbnail. Get AI feedback on potential click ability, if your tools offer it.
6. Plan for Momentum (Repurposing AI): As part of your planning, identify key soundbites or visual moments from your planned video that could be turned into short form content for other platforms using repurposing tools.

This workflow uses AI at multiple stages to move from broad data to specific, high potential, well packaged video ideas, increasing your probability of creating content that resonates and potentially goes viral.

10. Final Thoughts: AI is a Force Multiplier, Not a Crystal Ball

Focusing on AI’s predictive ability misses its true power. Its job isn’t to tell you the future. Its job is to dramatically increase your probability of success by helping you make smarter decisions at every stage of the creative process.

By integrating AI into your workflow, you can stop chasing virality and start building it strategically. AI is the force multiplier that amplifies your creativity, insight, and hard work, giving every video a better chance to achieve its maximum potential.

I have organized this entire workflow, including advanced prompt templates and a production checklist, into a single PDF. Get it for free to implement this system today.

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11. Frequently Asked Questions

• Can any AI tool predict virality?
  No. Tools that claim to predict virality are often overstating their capabilities. AI can identify trends, high search volume, or high engagement patterns, which indicate potential, but not guaranteed virality.
• Is chasing trends the best way to go viral?
  Jumping on trends can provide visibility, but it is competitive. Using AI to spot emerging trends (Strategy 2) or finding unique angles on popular topics (Strategy 6) is often a more effective strategy than following saturated trends. Your unique voice and quality execution are still essential.
• Does AI guarantee more views or subscribers?
  No AI tool can guarantee views or subscribers. Success on YouTube requires many factors including content quality, promotion, and audience connection. AI helps optimize for visibility and resonance, increasing the chance of success.
• What is the difference between a viral idea and a high potential idea?
  A viral idea is one that does go viral (an outcome). A high potential idea is one that has characteristics (timeliness, high interest, good hook, underserved angle) that make it more likely to go viral than a standard idea (a probability). AI helps find high potential ideas.
• Should I only make videos based on AI suggested viral topics?
  No. AI insights should inform your ideas, not replace your passion. Combine AI data with topics you are genuinely interested in and qualified to speak on. Authenticity and passion are key human elements AI cannot replace.