SLOP, the word of the year 2025, redefines a world filled with "junk content" created by AI.

 

The renowned dictionary Merriam-Webster has chosen ‘Slop’ as its 2025 word of the year, reflecting the problem of AI-generated junk content flooding internet feeds and causing countless misunderstandings – a term commonly known as ‘AI Slop.’

According to Merriam-Webster’s website, the word ‘Slop’ was first used in the 1700s to refer to “liquid mud” or “animal feed scraps,” before later being used to describe low-quality or worthless products/content.

Merriam-Webster has defined ‘Slop’ as “low-quality digital content produced in large quantities using artificial intelligence (AI).” The reason for choosing this word, according to Merriam-Webster, is that even the most sophisticated AI cannot match human creativity.

Sometimes, AI may only be capable of producing junk or low-quality content repeatedly, often using a mixture of data from the same sources. Ultimately, what humans really get in return is "a massive dump of AI-generated content that all looks the same."

The "Slop" or "AI Slop" phenomenon can be seen repeatedly on news feeds, especially towards the end of 2025, as various AI providers begin launching their AI-powered video creation features, making them easier to use. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are now filled with meaningless AI-generated videos designed solely to boost view counts.