Merriam-Webster Names 'Slop' Word of the Year as AI-Generated Content Floods Internet
Summary
Merriam-Webster declares 'slop' the 2025 word of the year as low-quality AI-generated content now comprises 50% of English-language internet material, while most consumers struggle to identify fake content and detection becomes nearly impossible even for experts.
Key Points
- Merriam-Webster names 'slop' as 2025's word of the year, defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content that now comprises an estimated 50% of English-language online content, while 55% of consumers feel uncomfortable discovering content is AI-generated
- AI slop gains viral popularity when embraced for its absurdity, with examples like 'We Are Charlie Kirk' reaching No. 1 on Spotify's viral charts and Jake Paul's AI videos spreading across social media as intentionally nonsensical entertainment
- Detection of AI content becomes increasingly difficult as 53% of Americans lack confidence identifying AI-generated material and even AI professionals correctly identify real versus fake images only 50% of the time, raising concerns about disinformation and job displacement