In defense of slop: When costs fall, average quality does too (newsletter.rootsofprogress.org)

In a provocative commentary, the term "slop" has been designated as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as low-quality digital content produced in abundance by artificial intelligence. This flood of "slop"—ranging from absurd AI-generated videos to subpar educational resources—has sparked outrage among technology enthusiasts, particularly in response to Meta's recent product announcement aimed at generating massive short-form videos for entertainment. The piece argues that as the costs of creation drop, the volume of low-quality outputs tends to rise, illustrating a growing disconnect between technological capabilities and human well-being. Despite the frustrations associated with slop, the article highlights the potential benefits of this phenomenon. Lowering production costs encourages experimentation, reduces reliance on traditional gatekeepers, and fosters a diverse array of content targeting niche audiences. While acknowledging the annoyance of low-value creations, the author posits that this shift could eventually lead to a renaissance of creativity. It also calls for the development of more effective discovery tools, emphasizing the need for consumers to engage thoughtfully with the abundance of content in order to navigate the complexities of an AI-influenced digital landscape.