Like most tools, generative artificial intelligence The model can also be widely misused. And when the misuse becomes so severe that it attracts the attention of authoritative dictionaries, people may realize that it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon…
On Monday, Merriam-Webster announced "slop" as its 2025 word of the year, reflecting its growing association with the proliferation of low-quality AI-generated content on social media, search results, and the internet. The dictionary defines slop as "low-quality digital content that is typically mass-produced using artificial intelligence ."
“This word is highly symbolic,” said Greg Barlow, president of Merriam-Webster. “It represents both the transformative technology of artificial intelligence and carries a complex mix of fascination, frustration, and even absurdity.”
To select the word of the year, Merriam-Webster's editorial team analyzes which words have seen a significant increase in search volume and frequency of use, and then uses consensus to determine the word that best reflects the characteristics of the year. Barlow points out that the surge in searches for "slop" reflects users' growing awareness that they are encountering false or low-quality content online.
The word "slop" first entered the English language in the 18th century, originally referring to soft mud. By the 19th century, it had evolved to mean kitchen waste used for pig feed, and eventually came to mean garbage or low-value products.
The newly added definitions related to artificial intelligence continue the historical context of describing "unpopular and unpleasant things".
While independent AI researcher Simon Willison did not coin the term "AI slop," he documented its rise in a May 2024 blog post, drawing a parallel between it and the evolution of "spam." Willison cited a tweet from X platform user @deepfates, noting that the term "AI slop" had already begun circulating in online communities shortly before his blog post advocating for its use.
The word “slop” carries a dismissive tone, contrasting sharply with the exaggerated rhetoric used by many companies in their advertising regarding the promises and even existential threats of artificial intelligence. Merriam-Webster wrote in its blog: “In 2025, amidst the various discussions about the threat of artificial intelligence, the word 'slop' creates a tone of less fear and more mockery.” “This word sends a subtle message to AI: in areas where you may replace human creativity, you sometimes don’t seem so super-intelligent.”
In its blog post announcing the word of the year, Merriam-Webster noted that 2025 saw a surge in AI-generated videos, bizarre advertising images, promotional materials, fake news, AI-written books, and time-consuming reports dubbed "work garbage."
Industry media have previously reported on many similar phenomena infiltrating various fields, including the proliferation of AI-generated resumes described as "recruitment garbage" in June of this year.
While some AI critics are happy to lump all generated content under the label "slop," the applicability of this label is subjective. As former Evernote CEO Phil Libin said in April of this year, the key is intent—"When AI produces mediocre work at a lower cost than humans, it's garbage; when it creates work that surpasses human capabilities, it's a positive reinforcement."
Willison offers a more nuanced perspective—as a practitioner advocating for the responsible use of AI, he supports its use as an aid in tasks such as programming, but opposes its use for spreading spam. In May 2024, while discussing the term, he wrote: “Not all promotional content is spam, and not all AI-generated content is inferior. But when content is mechanically generated and imposed on those who haven’t actively sought it, ‘slop’ is the most apt definition.”
The Economist also selected "slop".
It's worth mentioning that, in addition to Merriam-Webster, The Economist also named "slop" as the word of the year for 2025 earlier this month.
The Economist points out that the internet is currently rife with spam. Search for health issues on Google and see how many of the top results are entirely new, AI-generated web pages. Or browse Instagram and see how long it takes to find a video composed of fake clips and AI-generated voiceovers. Go to X and see if you can distinguish between genuine MAGA accounts and exposed spam websites originating from Pakistan, Nigeria, or Thailand.
Of course, besides "slop," The Economist also mentioned some other hot words this year. The magazine pointed out that the financial sector is a good place to find the word of the year because trends change rapidly, and financial professionals also like to create new words.
For example, "TACO" is one of the hottest buzzwords this year. Created by Financial Times journalist Robert Armstrong, it means "Trump Always Chickens Out," referring to the numerous tariff wars initiated and subsequently abandoned by Donald Trump. Another strong contender is the "debasement trade." In recent months, investors have been buying assets such as gold due to concerns that excessive government spending could destroy the value of their currencies and related assets.
The Oxford Dictionary has chosen "rage bait" as its word of the year for 2025, which refers to "online content that deliberately incites anger or outrage in a frustrating, provocative or offensive manner."
(Article source: CLS)
