The funniest part of the AI slop problem is that we have somehow reached a point where perfectly normal punctuation can look suspicious. 😂 Soon writers will be sitting at their keyboards thinking, “Can I use a semicolon, or will someone call the authorities?”
For me, the real issue is not whether a writer ever uses AI. It is whether there is still a human mind, voice, opinion, story, and pulse behind the words. Tools can help polish writing, but they should not replace having something worth saying.
I would much rather read an imperfect paragraph that sounds unmistakably human than a flawless one that feels like it was assembled in a laboratory.
The best radar may still be the simplest one: does this sound like somebody?
I have scanned myself, and it does not get it right. In fact, I used AI on a piece, and it said it was 100% human, so I have zero confidence in AI detection to identify anything. To answer the second question, I would never scan anyone's AI, with the exception of people who lambast others for using AI, to see if they are actually using AI to write that post. Amazingly, I have found that to be the case more than once. My concern, more so over on LinkedIn, is that people will use this AI detection to tag people as AI they just don't like, or they don't agree with the opinion being written about, instead of truly using it as an AI detection. Kind of like how Trump calls anything he doesn't like "fake news".
But it often makes Substack money as these people rise. They reply to lots of people, auto DM them, pump out one newletter after another and are super active on Notes and reply in the comments. It's a bit different than on LinkedIn
Bootcampers, I was talking so fast as I was in the Bootcamp world but also had to leave for my kids. So hope it wasn't tooooo fast but lots of you stayed till the end hahah . Again .. I know I can do better and slower. When you watch the replay you can turn the speed down then
I think the AI Slop button on LinkedIN is there to help LinkedIn identify the AI slop so they can support it more in feeds to make more money. Why? Because LinkedIN can’t identify slop when it buys ads. So it needs users of the platform to tell it how it can make more money with content users don’t want to read.
On Substack, if it doesn’t make Substack money, it’s AI Slop. If it makes Substack money, it’s NOT AI slop.
My consulting invoice is in the post. You’ll likely have to take out a 5th mortgage to pay it.
My issue with the LinkedIn button is that it's not based on anything other than the reader's opinion. What's stopping a reader from using that tag against people that they just don't like or against an opinion they just don't agree with? Kind of like calling factual interviewing "fake news" if you don't agree with what they're telling you.
Yeah right you mentioned this but apparently it's just a signal so nothing really happens at the moment but of course in the future... Someone might say my post is AI slop just by saying so...
Then I could defend myself... Oh man... Then we need lawyers for this or some type of agencies who are handling this...
LinkedIN’s primary purpose is to make a profit because it is a business. If you aren’t helping them reach that goal, LinkedIN doesn’t want you on their platform.
I joined LinkedIn in feb 2024. I've been on the free basic plan most of the time. This is actually my 3rd month of using premium. But I have built my whole business there.
They keep me around coz my posts keep other people in the app.
Your value to LinkedIn is that you were a sucker to give them $80/mo for three months. The fact that you’ve bet your business on LinkedIN and are locked into their platform is evidence of you not being a very good business person.
The funniest part of the AI slop problem is that we have somehow reached a point where perfectly normal punctuation can look suspicious. 😂 Soon writers will be sitting at their keyboards thinking, “Can I use a semicolon, or will someone call the authorities?”
For me, the real issue is not whether a writer ever uses AI. It is whether there is still a human mind, voice, opinion, story, and pulse behind the words. Tools can help polish writing, but they should not replace having something worth saying.
I would much rather read an imperfect paragraph that sounds unmistakably human than a flawless one that feels like it was assembled in a laboratory.
The best radar may still be the simplest one: does this sound like somebody?
Scanners are wrong many times
I have scanned myself, and it does not get it right. In fact, I used AI on a piece, and it said it was 100% human, so I have zero confidence in AI detection to identify anything. To answer the second question, I would never scan anyone's AI, with the exception of people who lambast others for using AI, to see if they are actually using AI to write that post. Amazingly, I have found that to be the case more than once. My concern, more so over on LinkedIn, is that people will use this AI detection to tag people as AI they just don't like, or they don't agree with the opinion being written about, instead of truly using it as an AI detection. Kind of like how Trump calls anything he doesn't like "fake news".
But it often makes Substack money as these people rise. They reply to lots of people, auto DM them, pump out one newletter after another and are super active on Notes and reply in the comments. It's a bit different than on LinkedIn
Bootcampers, I was talking so fast as I was in the Bootcamp world but also had to leave for my kids. So hope it wasn't tooooo fast but lots of you stayed till the end hahah . Again .. I know I can do better and slower. When you watch the replay you can turn the speed down then
I think the AI Slop button on LinkedIN is there to help LinkedIn identify the AI slop so they can support it more in feeds to make more money. Why? Because LinkedIN can’t identify slop when it buys ads. So it needs users of the platform to tell it how it can make more money with content users don’t want to read.
On Substack, if it doesn’t make Substack money, it’s AI Slop. If it makes Substack money, it’s NOT AI slop.
My consulting invoice is in the post. You’ll likely have to take out a 5th mortgage to pay it.
My issue with the LinkedIn button is that it's not based on anything other than the reader's opinion. What's stopping a reader from using that tag against people that they just don't like or against an opinion they just don't agree with? Kind of like calling factual interviewing "fake news" if you don't agree with what they're telling you.
I see one more problem with the new button.
We all have haters, and we all have competitors.
How about if 10-20-100 of them hit that button just in an attempt to lower your reach?
I hope LinkedIn thought about this.
Yeah right you mentioned this but apparently it's just a signal so nothing really happens at the moment but of course in the future... Someone might say my post is AI slop just by saying so...
Then I could defend myself... Oh man... Then we need lawyers for this or some type of agencies who are handling this...
The lawyers already approve the feature and the language in the EULA. You’ve already signed away your rights by using the platform.
Resistance is futile. You WILL obey. SHUT UP, SLAVE!
LinkedIN’s primary purpose is to make a profit because it is a business. If you aren’t helping them reach that goal, LinkedIN doesn’t want you on their platform.
Hmm 🤔 interesting Tom. In this case you mean these annoying ads, right? Or is there another way they make money off my stuff?
They buy Premium so they can send you unsolicited messages.
And they run annoying and misleading ads.
Ads and the Premium
I joined LinkedIn in feb 2024. I've been on the free basic plan most of the time. This is actually my 3rd month of using premium. But I have built my whole business there.
They keep me around coz my posts keep other people in the app.
No they don’t.
Your value to LinkedIn is that you were a sucker to give them $80/mo for three months. The fact that you’ve bet your business on LinkedIN and are locked into their platform is evidence of you not being a very good business person.
You need to rethink your strategy.
First of all you have no idea how my business is running, where I'm present, and what I'm doing.
Second of all I didn't pay them $80 a month. I paid them $27 because there was a discount. And I got two of the months' premium for free as a trial.
So you’re only worth $27 to the platform.
Sounds like you’re going to be in the next round of cuts LinkedIn does when they publicly claim they’re cutting AI slop.
I’d send you a LinkedIN request, but you won’t be on the platform long enough to accept it.
You've made my day man!
Haven't laughed this way for a very long time.