Merriam-Webster names ‘slop’ the word of the year (techcrunch.com)

Merriam-Webster has named "slop" its word of the year for 2025, a term that describes "digital content of low quality" generated en masse by artificial intelligence. This announcement highlights growing concerns within the AI and machine learning community about the proliferation of low-value content online, particularly as innovative tools like OpenAI's Sora and Google Gemini's Veo democratize media creation. The term "slop" reflects a cultural shift in how society perceives the influx of AI-generated materials, which have sparked both fascination and frustration among users. The significance of "slop" lies in its encapsulation of the so-called "slop economy," where the abundance of AI-generated content is monetized through advertising, leading to potential divides between consumers who can afford quality content and those left with less valued alternatives. Although this phenomenon raises alarms about informational dilution and polarization of digital communities, it also indicates AI's pervasive influence across diverse sectors, including cybersecurity, legal sectors, and education. Merriam-Webster’s choice, alongside similar recognitions from other dictionaries, underscores the crucial role of language in framing our collective understanding of AI's impact on society.