The AI Hype Index: The people can't get enough of AI slop | MIT Technology Review

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By The Editorsarchive pageNovember 26, 2025Stephanie Arnett/MIT Technology Review | Adobe Stock, EnvatoSeparating AI reality from hyped-up fiction isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a simple, at-a-glance summary of everything you need to know about the state of the industry. Last year, the fantasy author Joanna Maciejewska went viral (if such a thing is still possible on X) with a post saying “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.” Clearly, it struck a chord with the disaffected masses.Regrettably, 18 months after Maciejewska’s post, the entertainment industry insists that machines should make art and artists should do laundry. The streaming platform Disney+ has plans to let its users generate their own content from its intellectual property instead of, y’know, paying humans to make some new Star Wars or Marvel movies. Elsewhere, it seems AI-generated music is resonating with a depressingly large audience, given that the AI band Breaking Rust has topped Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart. If the people demand AI slop, who are we to deny them? by The EditorsShareShare story on linkedinShare story on facebookShare story on emailPopularWe’re learning more about what vitamin D does to our bodiesJessica HamzelouHow AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our timeWill Douglas HeavenOpenAI’s new LLM exposes the secrets of how AI really worksWill Douglas HeavenMeet the man building a starter kit for civilizationTiffany NgDeep DiveArtificial intelligenceHow AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our timeThe idea that machines will be as smart as—or smarter than—humans has hijacked an entire industry. But look closely and you’ll see it’s a myth that persists for many of the same reasons conspiracies do.
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The AI Hype Index, as presented by MIT Technology Review, offers a critical assessment of the current state of artificial intelligence development and its reception by the public. The core argument revolves around a perceived disconnect between the ambitious claims surrounding AI and its actual implementation, leading to what the article terms “AI slop”— a saturation of hype and promises exceeding the current capabilities of the technology.

The article begins with a viral sentiment expressed by Joanna Maciejewska, who questioned the utility of applying AI to tasks traditionally performed by humans, arguing for AI to handle mundane chores rather than creative endeavors. This observation foreshadows a broader trend: a public demand for AI to perform basic tasks, regardless of whether these tasks truly represent a significant advancement or simply a novelty.

The article then highlights several instances where this trend is manifesting in the entertainment industry. Disney+’s plans to leverage AI for content generation from existing intellectual property exemplify a shift towards automated creation, prioritizing volume over artistic innovation and potentially devaluing the work of human creatives. Furthermore, the commercial success of AI-generated music, specifically the AI band Breaking Rust topping Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart, underscores a public appetite for readily available, AI-produced content, irrespective of its quality or originality.

A central theme is the perpetuation of a myth—the idea that machines will attain human-level intelligence. The article suggests that this belief persists for similar reasons as conspiracy theories: a tendency to accept narratives that confirm pre-existing biases or desires.

The piece also addresses ethical concerns related to AI deployment. Significant attention is given to OpenAI’s presence and activities in India, specifically the revelation that its models reproduce caste stereotypes, causing harm to millions of people. This highlights a critical gap in the development and implementation of AI—the potential for bias to be amplified and perpetuated through advanced technologies.

Finally, the article references a recent development – efforts to “de-censor” DeepSeek R1, a large language model, decreasing its size by more than half and enabling it to address politically sensitive questions previously restricted in Chinese AI systems. This demonstrates a push toward greater accessibility and functionality within AI models, but also raises questions about the potential for misuse and the need for ongoing oversight.

In essence, the MIT Technology Review piece serves as a cautionary note, urging a more realistic assessment of AI’s capabilities while simultaneously acknowledging the complex ethical and societal implications of its advancement. It suggests a need to move beyond the inflated rhetoric and actively address biases and harmful outcomes as AI technology continues to evolve.