Merriam-Webster has officially named “Slop” as the 2025 Word of the Year. But what exactly does the term “AI Slop,” which has entered our lives alongside artificial intelligence, mean? As one of the most prominent dictionaries in the United States, Merriam-Webster regularly selects a “Word of the Year,” and this year’s choice has been officially announced. The dictionary chose “Slop,” a term frequently encountered on social media, for 2025.
What exactly is this word “Slop,” often seen as “AI Slop”? What does it mean, and how did it originate? In this article, we look at everything you need to know about the word of the year.
What is AI Slop?
AI Slop, selected as the word of the year for 2025, is defined as low-quality digital content produced via artificial intelligence. In other words, the poor-quality AI-generated images, videos, and other content found in high volumes on social media are referred to as “AI Slop.” This term is frequently used by internet users.
What is the Etymological Meaning of AI Slop?
“AI” is the direct abbreviation for Artificial Intelligence. “Slop,” on the other hand, translates to terms like waste, trash, or mush. When these two are combined, the phrase “AI Slop” began to be used to describe low-grade digital content.
How Did AI Slop Emerge?
With the advancement of artificial intelligence, we have seen this technology being used in every aspect of our lives, and social media is no exception. Users frequently share all types of visuals, videos, audio, and other content created by AI without regard for its quality.
Especially in 2024 and throughout 2025, as AI models became incredibly advanced, the volume of such low-quality AI content increased significantly. As speed and quantity took precedence over quality, this content began to be called AI Slop. Everyone, from journalists to ordinary social media users, is now using the term.
What are Examples of AI Slop?
Any low-quality text, video, or imagery circulating on the internet that serves no real purpose or reality falls under this expression. Examples include texts that repeat the same phrases and say nothing despite being long, or videos and photos that reflect no effort and bear no resemblance to reality.
We have examined in detail what “AI Slop,” the 2025 Word of the Year, means. As AI technologies continue to evolve, we can predict that examples of AI Slop will continue to increase.
You Might Also Like;
