Introduction to AI Slop Gifts
Shop until you’re in a mess. So-called “AI slop gifts” are already popping up in thrift stores to be resold after holiday shoppers were duped with misleading advertising. “Slop” refers to low-quality digital content created by artificial intelligence and delivered to consumers via social media.
What are AI Slop Gifts?
AI Slop Gifts are trinkets from companies that have used AI to make them look better online than they do in real life, and sometimes look barely the same as they do in AI-generated advertising. Online companies used AI to make gifts like T-shirts, mugs, Advent calendars, etc. appear to be of higher quality than they were – if the recipient even got them delivered.
The Deception
These gifts deceived many this year, especially older generations, and shortly after Christmas, videos surfaced on social media of people bragging about the items that had fooled their parents. Many people in the comments shared that they had received similar AI gifts for the holidays, and the one shown wasn’t even the worst thing they’d ever seen.
Reactions to AI Slop Gifts
“Five days after Christmas, the AI suction cups are already at the thrift store,” one person wrote in the on-screen text of a cheap-looking cup that resembled a stack of books. "The sad thing is I’ve seen much worse than this," the user added in the caption. Some people even joked about the gifts, with one person calling an unmicrowaveable mug "a mug of deception and desperation."
Celebrity Victims
Even celebrities fell victim to the AI gifts this year. One actress bought a dress based on an AI-generated ad and was disappointed with the result. “What I ordered… what I received!” she wrote on Instagram. “Online ordering sucks… PS: It looks better in the photo than in person.” Some people commented that she was being "trained by the AI" to expect low-quality products.
Conclusion
The rise of AI slop gifts is a warning to consumers to be cautious when shopping online. With the increasing use of AI in advertising, it’s becoming easier for companies to deceive customers into buying low-quality products. As one person said, "I’m so sorry to all the parents and grandparents who saw a picture of something they wanted to give to someone they love just because it was this stuff."
