Word of the Year 2025

Happy New Year. Let’s Talk Definitions, Specifically “Artificial + Intelligence + Slop” 

Cambridge Dictionary defines intelligence as "the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason." 

Learning is one key component of intelligence, but it is arguably the least advanced aspect compared with the ability to make judgments and form opinions.

What does artificial convey? Created by humans? Fake? Imitation? Artificial sunlight is similar to sunlight, providing some highly beneficial aspects of sunlight while simultaneously missing something essential. Artificial sunlight is as far removed from the power of the sun’s streaming beams as fool’s gold is from the real deal. 

In the context of artificial intelligence, the word artificial appears to convey a simulation of human intelligence, computer-based, non-organic, digital. Perhaps artificial should also convey a lesser sense here, a partial or reduced and limited level, despite its amazing capabilities to sort, organize, and analyze reams of data, and to learn. The prefixes near-, pseudo-, quasi-, and sub- come to mind.

And how do we define slop? This word, originally designating soft mud, and subsequently “food waste as fed to pigs” has taken on another meaning. It refers to the sheer volume of junk littering cyberspace, produced via AI-based computer programs. This includes flawed images, videos, books, blog posts, reports, graphs and charts, created with minimal human oversight. Blame the AI boom. 

Mirriam-Webster has declared slop as the 2025 Word of the Year, defining slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” This colloquial term has swept the cybernautic world in recent years. Read more about the Word of the Year decision at Mirriam-Webster.

Digital slop is a derisory term for the sheer volume of substandard work produced via AI, typically created for monetization purposes. Such slop clutters the web with absurdities and misinformation, making cyberspace a dangerous (or hilarious) place indeed. For example, see the shoveling scene my AI program produced. How many goofs can you find?

AI = artificial intelligence…automated intelligence… alleged intelligence…alternative intelligence

Anti-intelligence when used for slop.