‘AI slop’ hides the conversations we should be having

Abstract

The term “AI slop” hides conversations we need to have. When we call something “AI slop,” we’re often doing more than complaining about one output. Optimists use the term to quarantine failures away from AI’s promise; critics use it to indict the whole technology. Slop-talk thus lets us feel like we’re discussing important social issues without actually doing it. I argue that we should have those discussions openly.