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This episode is an exploration of into the rise and consequences of AI slop— how and why the internet has become overrun with disturbing and bizarre mass-produced brainrot content devoid of meaning and if that means the internet actually is becoming less human– or maybe even dead.

Timestamps:

00:42 Intro 

3:04 What is AI Slop?

9:07 The Dead Internet Theory

14:21 How platforms have responded to AI Slop

16:27 Engagement farming & capitalising on confusion

17:44 Ragebait& discriminatory AI memes  

19:49 The consequences of AI slop

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Sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/08/trump-posts-ai-image/679540/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/style/ai-search-slop.html https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chrisstokelwalker/pope-puffy-jacket-ai-midjourney-image-creator-interview 

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/facebook-ai-generated-slop-1235095088/ 

https://www.garbageday.email/p/slop-void 

https://www.vox.com/culture/378855/ai-slop-fall-autumn-inspiration-vibes-pinterest 

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/dead-internet-theory-wrong-but-feels-true/619937/ 

Walter, Y. (2025). Artificial influencers and the dead internet theory. AI & Society, 40(1), 239–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01857-0

Mariani, R. (2023). The Dead Internet to Come. New Atlantis (Washington, D.C.), 73, 34–42.

https://etymology.substack.com/p/slop-capitalism-and-dead-internet 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2025/01/02/meta-opens-floodgates-on-ai-generated-accounts-on-facebook-instagram/ 

https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/21/meta-spotted-testing-ai-generated-comments-on-instagram/ 

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/09/kermit-ai-generated-home-screen/679757/ 

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/09/confusion-is-the-new-clickbait/679916/ 

https://substack.com/@etymologynerd/p-159915598   

https://www.404media.co/brainrot-ai-on-instagram-is-monetizing-the-most-fucked-up-things-you-can-imagine-and-lots-you-cant/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-ai-insta-shuts-character-instagram-fb-accounts-user-outcry-rcna186177 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91293162/ai-slop-is-suffocating-the-web 

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/is-ai-art-stealing-from-artists