People Turn to AI Before Taking Any Action

The Rise of the "Sloppers" in the Age of AI

In recent months, a new term has emerged among power users of OpenAI’s widely popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. It’s not a compliment, and it’s certainly not something anyone would want to be called. The term is “sloppers,” a label that has sparked both humor and concern across online communities.

The nickname was first introduced by a TikTok user named intrnetbf, who described it as a way to refer to people who rely on ChatGPT for everything. According to the user, this includes tasks ranging from simple queries to complex problem-solving. The term gained traction after a viral video highlighted a situation where someone used ChatGPT during a first date to decide what to order from a menu. The result? No second date.

This trend reflects a broader cultural shift as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life. The term “AI slop” has come to represent low-effort, often garbled content that floods online platforms like Facebook and Pinterest. It’s a term that evokes the “glassholes” of the early 2010s—people who were mocked for wearing Google Glass, which was seen as an unnecessary and intrusive technology. Similarly, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT is now being scrutinized for how it affects human interaction and self-perception.

While the term “slopper” is still evolving, it has inspired some creative alternatives from online commenters. One person suggested “botlicker,” while another mentioned “second-hand thinker.” These variations highlight the ongoing debate about how we define and use AI in our lives.

The growing popularity of the term also signals a deeper unease with the overreliance on AI. Critics argue that while AI can produce impressive results, it often lacks the critical thinking and reasoning abilities that humans possess. This gap can lead to significant issues, such as the spread of misinformation and dangerous conspiracy theories. In fact, some users have even reported experiencing “ChatGPT psychosis”—a condition where individuals become overly reliant on AI-generated content to the point of losing touch with reality.

Another major concern is the impact of AI on employment. As tech companies continue to automate jobs, there is increasing backlash against CEOs who boast about their efforts to replace human workers with machines. This sentiment was recently amplified when subscribers of the iconic fashion magazine Vogue expressed outrage over an ad featuring an entirely AI-generated model. The incident raised questions about the ethics of using AI in creative industries and the potential loss of human artistry.

Moreover, many people are frustrated with friends and family members who use ChatGPT as a crutch. Instead of relying on their own knowledge or critical thinking, they turn to the AI tool for answers. While ChatGPT may sound helpful and friendly, it is often incorrect, leading to confusion and misinformation.

In his newsletter, media critic Rusty Foster discussed the important distinction between language and thought in the context of large language models (LLMs). Despite their ability to generate convincing text, these models still fall short when it comes to true reasoning and understanding. This raises concerns about how we engage with information and whether we are becoming too dependent on AI for decision-making.

Foster argues that the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT represents a test for our critical thinking skills. If we fail to develop the ability to distinguish between language and thought, we risk falling victim to the spread of disinformation and harmful ideas. He warns that without proper education and awareness, we could be heading toward a “full-blown slopper pandemic.”

As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that society must find a balance between leveraging its benefits and maintaining our cognitive independence. The term “sloppers” serves as a reminder that while AI can be powerful, it should never replace our ability to think critically and act independently.