What is AI slop?

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Sure¹, here is an explanation of AI slop:

AI slop refers to low-quality, generic content produced by AI language models and image generators. The term gained popularity in 2023-2024 as AI-generated content flooded the internet. While early AI slop was easily identifiable, by 2025 the telltale signs have become much more subtle as AI technology has significantly improved.

Key Characteristics of AI Slop (Text):

Overly formal tone that lacks personality
Redundant phrases like "it's important to note"
Excessive qualifiers such as "can," "may," "might"
Formulaic structure beginning with "Sure, I'd be happy to help!"
Lists, lots and lots of lists, because bullet points are efficient!
Bland, safe language avoiding definitive positions
Cheerful, overly helpful tone regardless of subject matter
Filler phrases like "in today's fast-paced world"

Key Characteristics of AI Slop (Images):

Uncanny perfection with oddly symmetrical faces
Extra fingers and distorted hands
Weird text that looks almost readable but isn't
Bizarre object fusions that make no physical sense
Generic stock photo aesthetic with perfect lighting
Overused styles like "cinematic," "photorealistic," and "8K"
Midjourney-esque dramatic lighting and composition

Caption: “Shrimp Jesus” was a phenomenon where AI-generated images of Jesus merged with shrimps were posted on Facebook

How to Spot AI Slop:

"As an AI language model..."
"I'd be happy to explain..."
"Thank you for your question about..."
"Here's a comprehensive guide to..."

AI Slop and the Enshittification of the Internet

AI slop significantly contributes to internet "enshittification" - the gradual degradation of online platforms and content quality:

Content floods: AI can generate unlimited articles and images that prioritize SEO keywords and visual appeal over substance
Information pollution: Vast amounts of redundant, surface-level content and stock-like images make finding genuine insights harder
Authority dilution: AI-generated content mimics expert writing without actual expertise
Economic disruption: Content creators and artists face competition from free, instant AI-generated alternatives
Trust erosion: As users encounter more AI slop, trust in online information deteriorates

The Evolution of AI Slop in 2025

The landscape of AI slop has changed dramatically:

Increasingly sophisticated: Modern AI content no longer contains obvious errors like extra fingers or nonsensical text
Style mimicry: Advanced models can now convincingly imitate specific writers, artists, and publications
Contextual awareness: New AI avoids the formulaic openings and closings that once gave it away
Nuanced positions: Unlike earlier models that hedged everything, modern AI can present balanced arguments
Personalization: AI slop now adapts to target audiences rather than producing one-size-fits-all content

Despite these improvements, the core issue remains: AI slop still prioritizes quantity over quality, lacks genuine lived experience, and contributes to information overload. The difference is that spotting it now requires delving into subtle inconsistencies rather than noticing obvious markers.

Alternate phrasings

Editor’s note: This article (unlike the rest of aisafety.info) was mostly written by an AI, but it was vetted by a human. ↩︎