AI output becomes slop only when we use it sloppily.
Most of us would regard mass-produced AI generated content that’s sent to us as slop.
But the same content becomes research if you work with an AI, iteratively talking with it and working through a problem or understanding a topic.
And if I create an initial draft and then talk through it with you, reading together and improving the draft – the AI output becomes a working draft.
Both these are useful examples where using AI increases personal and group productivity.
AI becomes slop when you try and remove the human aspect, when the output is judged on quality and completeness on its own.
In many situations AI doesn’t remove the need for people.
It’s the active participation of people that makes it valuable or not.
Handcrafted insight 