We're Swimming in AI Slop: How to Tell the Difference
Imagine scrolling through your social media feed and stumbling upon a video of your favorite celebrity hanging out with their favorite Pokémon. Sounds like fun, right? But what if I told you that this video wasn't actually made by the celebrity's team or even a talented fan? What if it was created entirely by artificial intelligence?
Welcome to the world of AI-generated video slop, where the lines between reality and fantasy are increasingly blurred. Tech giants Meta and OpenAI are leading the charge, churning out endless streams of AI-created content that can be just as convincing – and confusing – as the real thing.
I first encountered this phenomenon when I stumbled upon a viral video of Mark Zuckerberg's cat playing with a virtual reality headset. It was adorable, but something didn't quite add up. As I dug deeper, I discovered that it was actually an AI-generated clip created by Meta's new platform, Vibes. The company had announced the launch of Vibes in a recent blog post, touting its ability to create endless streams of AI-generated content – including videos of cats, dogs, and even blobs.
But Vibes is just the beginning. OpenAI's new Sora app takes it to the next level with its "Cameo" feature, which allows users to create videos of themselves or their friends interacting with public figures or fictional characters. The results are often hilarious – but also unsettling. I watched as a video of Sam Altman (the CEO of OpenAI) grilling up Pikachu on a virtual grill made the rounds on social media.
So how can you tell what's real and what's AI-generated slop? To find out, I spoke with Hayden Field, senior AI reporter at The Verge. "The problem is that these platforms are designed to be addictive," she explained. "They use algorithms to keep us engaged for as long as possible, often by serving up content that's tailored to our interests – even if it's not entirely real."
Field and I discussed the implications of this trend on society at large. "We're living in a world where AI-generated content is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from reality," she said. "This raises all sorts of questions about trust, authenticity, and the role of media in our lives."
But it's not just about the tech itself – it's also about what we do with it. As Field pointed out, these platforms are designed to be used for entertainment purposes only. But as AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, it's likely that we'll start seeing more serious applications – such as in education or advertising.
So what can you do to navigate this increasingly complex landscape? Here are a few tips:
1. Be skeptical: If something seems too good (or weird) to be true, it probably is.
2. Look for clues: Check the video's metadata or social media posts for hints about its authenticity.
3. Use fact-checking tools: Websites like Snopes and FactCheck.org can help you verify the accuracy of AI-generated content.
As I wrapped up my conversation with Field, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. We're living in a world where AI-generated video slop is becoming increasingly ubiquitous – and it's up to us to learn how to tell the difference between what's real and what's not.
So next time you scroll through your social media feed, take a closer look at that viral video. Is it really what it seems? Or is it just another example of AI-generated slop masquerading as reality?
*Based on reporting by Vox.*
