By Vicky Sidler | Published 27 October 2025 at 12:00 GMT+2

What do YouTube true crime videos, Amazon’s new book releases, and a suspiciously overconfident AI have in common?

They're all part of what Kurzgesagt calls the "slop era." And no, that's not a technical term. It's just what happens when the internet gets flooded with mediocre content pumped out by machines trying to sound human.

According to Kurzgesagt’s latest video, we’ve officially reached the golden age of AI-generated garbage—where bots write articles quoting other bots, fake reviews tank your Google rating, and you’re not totally sure if that thought leader on LinkedIn is real or just another AI-generated personal brand with a Canva addiction.

TL;DR:

• AI-generated content is everywhere—and it’s often wrong

• Bots now make up half of internet traffic

• AI tools often produce confident misinformation

• Even scientific papers are being rigged to fool AI reviewers

• Small businesses must double down on human-led, high-integrity content

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Table of Contents:

The Rise of AI Slop (and Why It’s Not Just Ugly):

We used to worry about spammy blogs and clickbait headlines. Now, the enemy is sneakier: AI-generated misinformation dressed up as fact.

Kurzgesagt, the famously bird-loving science channel, explains how AI is confidently churning out “facts” that don’t exist—like invented data on brown dwarfs or quotes from articles that were themselves written by AI.

The result? An internet echo chamber where fake facts get repeated so often they start to look real.

If you’ve ever found a beautifully written article that says nothing useful, or read a product review that feels oddly... non-human, you’ve met slop.

The Misinformation Feedback Loop Is Real:

Here’s the twist: once an AI-generated video or article goes viral, it becomes a “credible” source for other AIs. In one case, Kurzgesagt discovered that their own rejected AI-generated script—filled with errors—had been republished as a polished video by someone else. The false information started spreading like wildfire.

And it’s not just content. Even scientific research is getting caught in the mess. In July 2025, researchers were caught hiding secret prompts inside academic papers—like invisible ink—to manipulate AI peer reviewers.

It’s basically academic fraud via white font.

What This Means for Small Businesses:

If your brand depends on trust, this should make you nervous. When every piece of content looks shiny, but no one knows what’s true anymore, people start tuning out. Or worse, they trust the wrong source.

So what can you do?

1. Create content that actually helps: Don’t chase virality. Help someone solve a real problem and use your real voice.

2. Be transparent about using AI: AI can be helpful, like an “align” button in design software. But it shouldn't replace your thinking. Use it to speed things up, not to write your values for you.

3. Stick to what you know: Your audience isn’t looking for perfect. They’re looking for something that feels real. If that comes with the occasional typo or joke about brown dwarfs, all the better.

4. Keep your message clear: If your core message is clear and consistent, it won’t matter if someone else is yelling louder with AI-powered lungs.

Human Attention Is the Real Currency:

Kurzgesagt ends their video with a reminder: the internet runs on human attention. If we let the slop win, we risk turning the whole internet into a vending machine that only sells stale crackers.

But if we hold the line—if we keep making human stuff for humans—we can stand out.

You don’t need a 70-person animation team to do that. You just need a clear message and the guts to say it out loud.

That’s where the 5-Minute Marketing Fix comes in. It helps you write one simple, powerful sentence that builds trust, cuts through the noise, and reminds people you’re a real human with something real to offer.

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Let’s ride out the slop wave together.

Related Articles:

1. Is AI making it harder to think clearly? Here's why your brain needs a break—and what small business owners can do about it.

If AI slop is overwhelming your feeds, it might also be overwhelming your mind. This article looks at how constant AI exposure affects your focus and decision-making—and what small business owners can do to protect their brainpower.

2. Generative AI is stalling on cost, trust, and results. Here's what small business owners need to know before jumping in.

Think AI will save you time and money? Not so fast. This post explains why many AI projects fail to deliver and what you should know before investing in tools that could add more slop than substance to your business.

3. LinkedIn's AI writing tool failed to impress. Here's what small business owners can learn before trusting AI with their message.

AI slop doesn’t just live on random websites. Even LinkedIn got burned when its AI writing assistant fell flat. Learn what went wrong and how to protect your professional credibility from sounding robotic.

4. AI Marketing Trust Gap Widens as Consumers Push Back

While AI tools multiply, consumer trust is shrinking. This article explores the growing divide between marketers and customers—and how small businesses can keep marketing human in an increasingly automated world.

5. Most People Can't Spot AI Ads—Why That Matters for Your Brand

Here’s the irony: even as AI slop floods the internet, most people can’t tell it apart from real content. This post breaks down why transparency is your best defense and how to build brand trust in a synthetic media era.

FAQs on AI Slop and What It Means for Small Businesses

1. What exactly is “AI slop”?

“AI slop” refers to the flood of low-quality, AI-generated content spreading across the internet. It includes everything from fake reviews and rewritten blog posts to misleading articles that quote other AI-created sources.

2. Why is AI-generated content such a problem?

Because much of it looks convincing but isn’t true. When misinformation circulates through AI systems, it becomes nearly impossible to tell what’s real—and that damages trust in online information and brands alike.

3. How can small businesses avoid contributing to AI slop?

Use AI tools for support, not shortcuts. Let AI help you brainstorm or polish content, but make sure the ideas, voice, and facts come from you. Always double-check AI outputs before publishing anything under your name.

4. Are bots really responsible for half of internet traffic?

Yes. Studies show that about 50 percent of today’s internet activity comes from bots—many of them used for fake traffic, spam, or misinformation. That’s why authenticity and human-led storytelling matter more than ever.

5. How can I make my marketing stand out in a world full of AI content?

Be human. Share real stories, offer genuine help, and write in your natural voice. Audiences can sense sincerity, even online. Clear, authentic messaging will always rise above formulaic AI content.

6. Is AI reliable for research or fact-checking?

Not yet. AI can summarise information quickly, but it often blends real facts with confident-sounding falsehoods. Always verify claims against reputable human sources before trusting what AI gives you.

7. What should small businesses learn from the “AI slop” crisis?

That trust is now your strongest marketing currency. If your customers believe your content was created thoughtfully and with integrity, they’ll stay loyal—no matter how advanced AI tools become.

8. How can I write authentic content faster without using AI to do it all?

You can use tools like the5-Minute Marketing Fix to clarify your message and stay consistent. Once you know exactly what you want to say, producing content becomes much easier and still feels real.