How to Deal with AI Slop and Not Create Your Own!

Have you heard the term “AI slop”?

You have probably seen it, even if you have not called it that.

It is the LinkedIn post that says a lot but does not really say anything. The comment that feels generic. The image looks almost right, but not quite. The message that clearly was not written with you in mind or the copy full of american spellings and em dashes!

AI slop is not simply content made with AI. It is content that feels rushed, empty or copied. It may look polished at first, but there is no real thought or value behind it.

LinkedIn has now introduced a way for users to flag content that “seems like AI slop”. Its Chief Product Officer, Hari Srinivasan, has said this matters because people come to LinkedIn to connect with real people and share real perspectives, ideas and expertise. More than one million users have reportedly used the feature, which shows how tired people are of seeing generic content online.

So, for businesses, the question is not whether AI should be used.

The better question is how to use it properly and that’s what this blog is for.

AI is not the problem

At The Marketing Associates, we see AI as a useful tool when it is used carefully for the right reason with the right prompt.

It can help with ideas, research, planning, proofreading, reporting, analytics, streamlining systems and everyday marketing tasks. It can save time and help teams move quicker.

The problem starts when AI replaces original thinking.

People are busy. Businesses are under pressure. Everyone is trying to stay visible and keep up with content. AI can make that feel easier, but speed does not guarantee quality.

If the thinking behind the content is weak, AI will only help produce weak content more quickly.

Why generic AI content does not work

Most AI slop stands out because it feels vague.

It uses familiar phrases, follows predictable structures and imagery and gives advice that could apply to almost any business. It may even be hallucinating (please always ask several AI chats to validate!

For B2B and professional service firms, that is a problem.

Your audience is looking for useful insight, not more noise. They want to know that you understand their challenges, their market and the decisions they are trying to make.

Generic content will not build that trust, in some cases, it can make your business sound less distinctive.

Use AI as a support tool

A better approach is to use AI to support your thinking, not replace it.

Use it to explore ideas, shape a structure, check the flow or proofread something you have already written. Let it help you get started, but make sure the final opinion, examples and message come from you.

Your experience is what makes the content worth reading. AI does not know the client conversations you have had, the detail of your market or the judgement that comes from doing the work.

That part still needs to be human.

The same applies to images, graphics and posters. AI can help with ideas, but anything visual should still be checked, edited and brought in line with your brand before it is published.

Tools such as Canva, Adobe Express, Figma, Photoshop, CapCut and Claude can all help, but they do not replace good design judgement.

Check before you publish

Before putting anything live, ask yourself:

Have facts or statistics been validated?
Does this actually say something useful, add value or answer the brief?
Does it sound like our business Tone of Voice?
Does our audience care about this or is it more noise?
Have we added our own thinking?
Is it clear, accurate and easy to read?

If the answer is no, it needs more work.

AI should make marketing better, not louder

The best use of AI is not to create more content for the sake of it, but to work more efficiently, make better use of ideas and keep marketing focused.

At The Marketing Associates, we help B2B and professional service businesses bring more clarity, structure and purpose to their marketing. AI can be part of that, but the strategy, judgement and message still need to come from the business.

Used carefully, AI can save time and strengthen your marketing. Used without thought, it just adds to the noise.

Let’s talk strategy

If your business is using AI but wants to make sure the output still feels clear, useful and true to your brand, we can help bring the strategy behind it.

Visit www.themarketingassociates.co.uk, email tabitha@themarketingassociates.co.uk or call 01233 720379 to start a conversation.

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