“Slop” is the term for the rising tide of low-quality, AI-generated content flooding digital platforms — think hastily assembled eBooks, generic cookbooks, or recycled summaries churned out by tools like ChatGPT. It’s not just noise; it’s a calculated exploit of scale, prioritizing volume over value. According to an investigation by 404 Media earlier this month, the problem has hit public libraries, prompting action from Hoopla, a major eBook provider.
The exposé uncovered hundreds of AI-made titles — like IRB Media’s 600+ summaries — clogging Hoopla’s catalog, misusing public funds and taxing librarians. Hoopla’s fix: purge the slop, tighten curation, and offer libraries an opt-out for AI-tagged content. The problem isn’t new or confined to eBooks — Amazon’s KDP capped uploads at three titles daily back in 2023 and websites are drowning in AI-generated articles and clickbait, diluting search results and user trust. All are reacting to a clear trend: AI’s low barrier to entry is overwhelming ecosystems built on quality.
The stakes are high. Readers lose time, authentic authors lose visibility, and curation crumbles. Hard stats on slop’s scale are scarce, but its impact isn’t. Hoopla’s cull helps, but it’s a patch, not a plan. Platforms thrive on volume, not vetting. AI tools fuel the flood unchecked. We need smarter filters — labeling, detection, something — to safeguard quality.
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P.S. If you're wondering how to ensure that your AI-generated copy isn't misidentified as slop, come join us at MMA CMO AI Transformation Summit (March 18, 2025 | NYC). I'm facilitating and co-producing this half-day invitation-only event which will provide insights into the strategies, technologies, and leadership practices for CMOs who are driving successful AI transformations across the world’s best marketing organizations. Request your invitation.
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
