How everything became AI slop

I tried to understand if these images are ruining the internet.
Something strange is happening to Facebook. Over the last few years, the algorithmically suggested images on users’ feeds have become more and more bizarre: Elderly people celebrating impossibly ancient birthdays, artists standing next to intricate woodcarving creations, Jesus appearing in front of airplane cabin crews. It’s being called “AI slop” — AI-generated images designed to bait engagement by eliciting strong emotional reactions. I set out to understand why so many people are seeing this stuff on social media, and what it might mean for how we understand the images we see on the internet.

Prochain épisode

S2025E04 - Why China is obsessed with this evil bear