Slop: Comment traduire ce mot en françAIs? (dictionnaire.lerobert.com)

The term "slop" has recently emerged in the AI community to describe low-quality, inauthentic content generated by artificial intelligence. This designation, which has its origins in the English language dating back to the 15th century, has evolved from referring to muddy substances to denoting subpar intellectual outputs, mirroring concerns about the proliferation of unreliable AI-generated information. Simon Willison, a key figure in popularizing this term, emphasizes its importance in raising awareness about the dangers of low-quality AI content, similar to how "spam" spotlighted unwanted emails. In fact, "slop" was named the word of the year for 2025 by Merriam-Webster, highlighting its significance in contemporary discourse around AI. The need for a French equivalent for "slop" has surfaced, with suggestions like "contenu dégénératif" from the Office québécois de la langue française, and more colloquial terms such as "bouillie" or "purée numérique." The latter captures both the derogatory essence of the term and the digital nature of the content it describes. Several alternatives are being discussed, including "bouillasse," which creatively incorporates "IA" into its phonetics. As the conversation continues, the selected term could soon find its place in major French dictionaries, reflecting the growing concern about the impact of AI-generated content.