We’ve previously written in this space about the problem of AI-generated malicious content and deepfakes, realistic but counterfeit videos, audio, images, and other content designed to mislead and misinform. Today, we’re taking a look at another AI-generated phenomenon, AI slop.

AI slop is content generated by artificial intelligence that lacks coherence, context, and quality. With the rise of AI-generated content, it’s becoming more common to stumble upon these low-quality pieces in our social media feeds, search results, and even books and art. They’re harmless, though—not nefarious like deepfakes. Right?

Well, not exactly.

For one thing, it makes social media a lot less useful. Like the spam that clutters my email inbox, AI slop fills my social feeds and search results with stuff I don’t want to see but can’t avoid. It’s also insulting. For example, as a music lover, I’m offended by an error-laden article that misrepresents my favorite band. And as a writer and editor, nothing gets under my skin like lazy writing.

AI slop isn’t just annoying—it can have consequences. Because everything on the internet lives forever, it will end up being used to train future AI models, creating an endless cycle of garbage in, garbage out.

Who creates AI slop and what’s the point of it? When people engage with AI slop, it generates revenue for its creators. Many AI slop accounts are associated with AI-powered “content farms” disguised as helpful blogs. Useless photos and articles posted to social media accounts are a way to attract viewers to display ads on their websites.

But importantly, what happens to us when we can’t trust the content we’re reading—will it erode our trust in digital media as a whole? I believe the answer is yes, but that may not actually be a bad thing. Without trust, we can better train ourselves to become more discerning consumers.

Rather than relying on imperfect tools to detect AI-generated content, I lean on the skills I learned in journalism school. Here are a few tips from my training that you can incorporate into your own online routines:

1. Verify the source. Is it from a reputable news outlet or a verified social media account? If not, I’m immediately skeptical. Reliable sources are more likely to produce high-quality content, so always take a moment to verify where the information is coming from.

2. Cross-reference information. Another strategy is to cross-check facts with multiple sources. If I read something that seems off, I’ll look it up on other websites or use fact-checking tools like Snopes or FactCheck.org. This helps ensure that the information is accurate.

3. Analyze the writing quality. Pay attention to the quality of the writing. AI slop often suffers from awkward phrasing, repetitive points, and a lack of substance. Well-written content usually has a clear structure, proper grammar, and depth—and it sounds human. If something feels off, it probably is.

4. Engage with content critically. Developing critical thinking skills is crucial. Ask questions about the content’s purpose, audience, and accuracy. Why was this written or created? Who is it for? Is it backed up by evidence?

5. Check the details. AI-generated images just keep getting better and better, and it can be hard to distinguish between the real and the fake. When it’s not as apparent, check for inconsistent or unnatural details, background anomalies, asymmetry, and weird lighting and shadows. If it looks too perfect, it might not be real.

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This won’t remove the AI slop from your social feeds or elsewhere on the internet, but it will hopefully give you a greater sense of control over the content you consume.

- Caroline Brown, Editorial and Production Team Lead, Deloitte Office of the CTO