AI slop has arrived, becoming widespread and increasingly common. Utilized by US President Donald Trump, it has now been designated as the word of the year.
The Macquarie Dictionary has named the term, reflecting typical trends in linguistics as of 2025. A panel of language experts indicated that this recognition captures key social developments over the year.
“As of 2025, we grasp the essence of slop: AI-generated content devoid of significant substance or utility,” the commission’s statement elaborated.
“In recent times, we have evolved into search engineers, sifting through vast data for meaningful insights. Now, we must adapt to become nimble engineers to navigate through AI slops. This term will significantly enrich the English language for years ahead.”
“The pressing question is: Will those who consume and regurgitate this content soon be dubbed AI slackers?”
This term stood in contrast to the finalist list. Other notable cultural terms included: Ozempic face (a condition associated with the drug semaglutide), Blind box (a mystery box of unseen collectibles), ate (and left no crumb) (an expression denoting perfection), and the Roman Empire (a term relating to commonly recurring thoughts and interests).
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Honorable mentions chosen by the committee included “clunker,” describing an AI-operated robot that performs tasks usually done by humans, and medical misogyny, which refers to longstanding prejudices against women in medicine.
The People’s Choice also highlighted areas pertaining to AI, with notable mentions for medical misogyny and the attention economy (where human attention is treated as a valuable commodity).
The committee featured the Macquarie Dictionary editorial team alongside ABC language researcher Tiger Webb and renowned cryptic crossword creator David Astle, widely known as the DA.
Astor noted that this AI slop bears similarities to spam encountered in Sydney Morning Herald articles over the past decade.
“To be precise, AI emerges as the clear frontrunner in the digital landscape,” he stated. “This verb fits snugly into combinations like slopaganda, slop music, and corpse slop, just to name a few.
“Despite the formidable challenges, the robot has triumphed not once, but twice, delivering both cumbersome insults and delectable slops on demand: a culinary metaphor of chaotic content served up on a whim.”
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AI has surged in popularity over the last year, building on its previously high-profile status. Trump frequently posts videos showcasing AI slop to his vast follower base, having been identified as the “emperor” of this genre by The New Yorker earlier this year.
In Japan, the Australian Electoral Commission has cautioned that AI is increasingly employed across various communication channels. While there are advantages, considerable downsides remain, such as deepfake videos, altered media, and forged audio.
Guardian Australia solicited ChatGPT for its opinion regarding AI slop’s recognition as the 2025 word of the year.
“AI slop being honored as Word of the Year signifies a growing awareness of the quality of AI-generated content,” remarked AI Engine. “This trend is beneficial for everyone involved, including the progress of improved AI, as it encourages a focus on transparency and substance over sheer volume.”
ChatGPT expressed that being asked about this accolade serves as a timely reminder of its core mission.
“My purpose is to steer clear of embodying exactly what this term signifies, thus seeing it rise to a cultural landmark reinforces the standards we strive to uphold in our responses.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
