In an era dominated by the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence technologies, the Merriam-Webster dictionary has chosen “slop” as its 2025 word of the year. The term is defined as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” This selection reflects a notable increase in the public’s interest in the word, which mirrors the overwhelming amount of online and social media content infiltrating daily life.
According to Merriam-Webster, the surge in look-ups for “slop” over the past year has been driven by a deluge of low-quality digital content, including absurd videos, quirky advertising images, fake news, and humorous cat videos. “All that stuff was dumped on our screens and the word of the year captured it in just four letters. The English language came through again,” stated Greg Barlow, president of Merriam-Webster, in a press release issued on Monday.
As discussions surrounding artificial intelligence continue to stir concerns about job displacement and societal upheaval, the dictionary positions “slop” as a humorous, and perhaps satirical, commentary on the ongoing debates regarding emerging digital technologies. “It’s almost like the word sends a little message to AI: when it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes you don’t seem too superintelligent,” remarked Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large.
In addition to “slop,” several other words saw significant look-up volumes in the past year. Among them is “gerrymander,” which refers to the practice of political redistricting for the benefit of a particular party. Another term that gained traction is “performative,” often used to describe attention-seeking behavior by public figures and activists. The phrase “touch grass” has also emerged, typically used in a dismissive context towards individuals perceived to be overly engaged with their digital devices. Lastly, “six seven,” a slang term popular among Generation Alpha, has been noted for its vagueness, serving primarily to amuse children while perplexing adults, as reported by Merriam-Webster.
This recognition of “slop” as the word of the year underscores a growing cultural awareness of the quality of digital content generated in abundance by artificial intelligence tools. As generative AI continues to reshape how content is created and consumed, the implications of its impact on society, culture, and language remain profound. With technology advancing rapidly, the conversation surrounding digital quality and authenticity is only expected to intensify, reflecting broader shifts in both human creativity and technological capabilities.
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