University of Kwazulu-Natal

Ai Slop How Every Media Revolution Breeds Rubbish And Art

Bonisiwe Shabane
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ai slop how every media revolution breeds rubbish and art

The Slop Cycle—How Every Media Revolution Breeds Rubbish and Art The popularization of the term “slop” for AI output follows a centuries-long pattern where new tools flood the zone, audiences adapt and some of tomorrow’s art emerges from today’s excess By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Clara Moskowitz Old metal printing letters used for traditional letterpress text printing. Spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism, kitsch—slop: These are all ways to describe mass-produced, low-quality content. The latter term is reserved for the newest variety, which comes from artificial intelligence.

Though references to AI slop date back at least to 2022, a poet and technologist who writes under the name “deepfates” popularized it two years later as “the term for unwanted AI generated content”... Shortly afterward, developer Simon Willison shared the concept in a blog post: “Not all AI-generated content is slop,” he wrote. “But if it’s mindlessly generated and thrust upon someone who didn’t ask for it, slop is the perfect term.” Today slop’s pejorative bite is increasingly aimed at all things AI, treating it as an... And most of it is—but by indiscriminately dismissing all of it, we risk missing out on the minority of creations that are keepers. FBI Season 8 Episode 6’s baby-stealing plot took the procedural... We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase...

Though we were in frequent conversation for a decade, I... Aaron Nichols secured one of the most coveted spots in... President Donald Trump promised on Monday that his administration will... The popularization of the term “slop” for AI output follows a centuries-long pattern where new tools flood the zone, audiences adapt and some of tomorrow’s art emerges from today’s excess Spam, fluff, clickbait, churnalism, kitsch—slop: These are all ways to describe mass-produced, low-quality content. The latter term is reserved for the newest variety, which comes from artificial intelligence.

Though references to AI slop date back at least to 2022, a poet and technologist who writes under the name “deepfates” popularized it two years later as “the term for unwanted AI generated content”... Shortly afterward, developer Simon Willison shared the concept in a blog post: “Not all AI-generated content is slop,” he wrote. “But if it’s mindlessly generated and thrust upon someone who didn’t ask for it, slop is the perfect term.” Today slop’s pejorative bite is increasingly aimed at all things AI, treating it as an... And most of it is—but by indiscriminately dismissing all of it, we risk missing out on the minority of creations that are keepers. Mass‑produced culture has a long, messy history. The biblical book of Ecclesiastes—thought to have been written between 300 and 200 B.C.E.—laments, “Of making many books there is no end.” This was in response to the flood of philosophical writings in the...

Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention. But over the years, some of that sediment has incubated new artforms, and trash and treasure have appeared in the same stream. You've probably encountered images in your social media feeds that look like a cross between photographs and computer-generated graphics. Some are fantastical – think Shrimp Jesus – and some are believable at a quick glance – remember the little girl clutching a puppy in a boat during a flood? These are examples of AI slop, low- to mid-quality content – video, images, audio, text, or a mix – created with AI tools, often with little regard for accuracy. It's fast, easy, and inexpensive to make this content.

AI slop producers typically place it on social media to exploit the economics of attention on the internet, displacing higher-quality material that could be more helpful. Related: New Viral Indie Rock Sensation Reveals They're 100% AI AI slop has been increasing over the past few years. As the term "slop" indicates, that's generally not good for people using the internet. In recent years, the digital landscape has witnessed a dramatic surge in content creation fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). While AI’s potential to innovate and optimize is undeniable, it has also introduced a flood of what experts and users alike now term “slop”—a seemingly endless stream of low-value, repetitive, or uncanny content that...

This article delves into the nature of AI-generated slop, its origins, characteristics, and the profound impact it holds over cultural consumption, cognitive health, and the marketplace. “Slop” is an evocative, onomatopoetic term describing the formless, overwhelming flood of AI-generated digital artifacts, physical goods, and experiences that lack meaningful substance or AI-generated text, images, and videos that feel almost real but evoke a subtle sense of unease or artificiality. Mass-produced, fast-fashion clothing hauls that prioritize quantity and convenience over quality or style. Fast-casual “slop bowls”—meals assembled for efficiency rather than culinary craftsmanship.

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The Slop Cycle—How Every Media Revolution Breeds Rubbish And Art

The Slop Cycle—How Every Media Revolution Breeds Rubbish and Art The popularization of the term “slop” for AI output follows a centuries-long pattern where new tools flood the zone, audiences adapt and some of tomorrow’s art emerges from today’s excess By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Clara Moskowitz Old metal printing letters used for traditional letterpress text printing. Spam, fluff, clickbait, ...

Though References To AI Slop Date Back At Least To

Though references to AI slop date back at least to 2022, a poet and technologist who writes under the name “deepfates” popularized it two years later as “the term for unwanted AI generated content”... Shortly afterward, developer Simon Willison shared the concept in a blog post: “Not all AI-generated content is slop,” he wrote. “But if it’s mindlessly generated and thrust upon someone who didn’t a...

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Though we were in frequent conversation for a decade, I... Aaron Nichols secured one of the most coveted spots in... President Donald Trump promised on Monday that his administration will... The popularization of the term “slop” for AI output follows a centuries-long pattern where new tools flood the zone, audiences adapt and some of tomorrow’s art emerges from today’s excess Spam, fluff, clickbai...

Though References To AI Slop Date Back At Least To

Though references to AI slop date back at least to 2022, a poet and technologist who writes under the name “deepfates” popularized it two years later as “the term for unwanted AI generated content”... Shortly afterward, developer Simon Willison shared the concept in a blog post: “Not all AI-generated content is slop,” he wrote. “But if it’s mindlessly generated and thrust upon someone who didn’t a...

Since Then, Whenever New Tools To Crank Out Communications Have

Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention. But over the years, some of that sediment has incubated new artforms, and trash and treasure have appeared in the same stream. You've probably encountered images in your social media feeds that look like a cross betwe...