What it is
Slop — low-quality digital content mass-produced by generative AI: absurd videos, botched ads, fake news that looks almost real, junk AI books, "workslop" reports and endless talking cats.
Merriam-Webster: "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence".
Where it came from
- Since the 1700s the English word
slopmeant "liquid mud", later "swill" — a product with no value. - The term stuck to AI content in the early years of the generative boom and became ubiquitous by 2025.
- In December 2025
slopwas named word of the year by both Merriam-Webster and The Economist (the latter inspired by the launch of OpenAI Sora).
Why it took off
- Generation got so cheap it is effectively free — feeds physically filled up with identical content.
- People needed one short word for a new irritant — and here it was.
- The tone of the term is mocking rather than frightening: it is scepticism about AI's "creative" abilities, not fear.
How to use it today
- Use
slopas a quality filter for your own content: "is this useful, or is it slop?" - An anti-slop checklist before publishing: a unique angle, fact-checking, human editing, value for the reader.
- The word already lands with audiences in headlines and copy — you can play it for self-irony ("slop-free").
What to watch out for
- Slop damages trust in ALL AI content — even the good stuff. Label what was made and how.
- Platforms and search engines are learning to downrank mass AI junk — betting on volume loses to betting on value.