The Rise of AI Slopaganda: A Concerning Trend in the Tech Industry
A growing trend in the tech industry has raised concerns about the proliferation of low-quality content and potential exploitation. According to a report by the Financial Times, a slew of newsletters and social media influencers are promoting AI products with little to no scrutiny, creating a "slopaganda" machine that benefits from hype rather than substance.
The article, written by Sid Venkataramakrishnan, a digital sociologist and former Financial Times reporter, argues that the AI industry is awash with "second-order slop" or "slopaganda," which refers to a tidal wave of low-quality content designed to promote AI products and services. This content is often created by self-described educators and influencers who are patronized by AI companies looking to reach new customers.
The Financial Times report highlights the case of two popular AI newsletters, Superhuman AI and The Rundown, which claim to have over a million subscribers each. However, upon closer inspection, the content of these newsletters appears to be little more than press release summaries, lacking in-depth analysis or skepticism. As the article notes, "If you actually read the AI newsletters, it becomes harder to see why anyone’s staying signed up."
The Financial Times article also raises questions about the revenue models of these newsletters, citing estimates that Superhuman AI generates "six figures a month" from advertising. The article notes that The Rundown has not disclosed its revenue breakdown, but its connections to Big Tech are evident, with Rowan Cheung’s 35-minute interview with Mark Zuckerberg from 2024.
Critics of the AI newsletter economy, such as Ed Zitron, a writer and PR expert, have expressed skepticism about the value of these publications. As Zitron notes, "It’s content built for people who don’t really read or listen or know stuff . . . It’s propaganda under a different name." He also questioned the validity of seven-figure subscriber counts, suggesting that metrics can be easily manipulated by buying email lists.
The Financial Times article also highlights the proliferation of AI influencers on social media platforms like X, who promote AI products for minimal sums. These influencers often have suspiciously high follower counts, and many appear to be operating multiple accounts, violating platform guidelines.
The article cites a data scientist at one of the "Magnificent Seven" tech companies, who describes the AI newsletter economy as "content slop on the internet and adding very little upside on content value." This sentiment is echoed by Zitron, who warns that the rise of slopaganda is a sign of a "worrisome bubble" or exploitation.
In conclusion, the Financial Times article raises important questions about the AI industry’s reliance on low-quality content and potential exploitation. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential to critically evaluate the information being presented and to be aware of the potential for manipulation and hype. According to the Financial Times, "When these people pop up around an industry, it should be a sign that this is a worrisome bubble or that there are people actively looking to exploit it."
