1. ai slop. 2. ??? 3. profit!
January 26, 2025 2:55 AM Subscribe
What is the business model for those Facebook pages that churn out AI pictures with soppy attention-getting captions? (Example under the fold.)
So, this thing here. (CW: most of the pictures are inoffensive but some are of injuries or medical conditions that may be disturbing) This page has changed names a few times, and in its current incarnation posts a lot of AI pictures of elderly people who, according to the captions, have baked their own birthday cakes. People comment their congratulations or their sympathy (some of the captions mention how no one cares that the poor old person had to bake their own cake), or point out that it's AI, or whatever.
But what I can't figure out is why does this exist? There don't appear to be any ads or outgoing links to click? There's nothing to buy. Is it a scam? Is it harvesting people's names for future use somehow--and if so, how exactly does that work? Surely no one is generating all these pictures for fun?
So, this thing here. (CW: most of the pictures are inoffensive but some are of injuries or medical conditions that may be disturbing) This page has changed names a few times, and in its current incarnation posts a lot of AI pictures of elderly people who, according to the captions, have baked their own birthday cakes. People comment their congratulations or their sympathy (some of the captions mention how no one cares that the poor old person had to bake their own cake), or point out that it's AI, or whatever.
But what I can't figure out is why does this exist? There don't appear to be any ads or outgoing links to click? There's nothing to buy. Is it a scam? Is it harvesting people's names for future use somehow--and if so, how exactly does that work? Surely no one is generating all these pictures for fun?
Oh yeah, it has recently changed so that Meta is directly paying companies to produce AI slop, according to 404 Media:
Facebook itself is paying creators in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines for bizarre AI spam that they are learning to make from YouTube influencers and guides sold on Telegram.posted by rambling wanderlust at 4:34 AM on January 26 [1 favorite]
A big part of marketing is finding your audience. If you can get them all to like and follow content X, you can then push an ad at them selling product Y. This was true in an analogue way for a long time - fill out something for a diaper or formula free sample, start getting a ton of junk mail designed for new parents (start your child’s education fund!)
This is one way. I clicked on a couple of AI generated things out of curiosity and I got a huge uptake in fake friend requests. I think I accidentally passed a gullibility screen.
posted by warriorqueen at 5:36 AM on January 26 [3 favorites]
This is one way. I clicked on a couple of AI generated things out of curiosity and I got a huge uptake in fake friend requests. I think I accidentally passed a gullibility screen.
posted by warriorqueen at 5:36 AM on January 26 [3 favorites]
Note: The link below the fold is a live link to the spammy FB page the OP is warning us about. I had assumed it was a screenshot. I wish I had not clicked on it.
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:59 AM on January 26 [4 favorites]
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:59 AM on January 26 [4 favorites]
Isabel Sloane wrote an interesting article on the subject in her newsletter Freak Palace: The Importance of Being Dull.
posted by meowmeowdream at 9:13 AM on January 26 [2 favorites]
posted by meowmeowdream at 9:13 AM on January 26 [2 favorites]
UGH I did finally quit FB recently but the last few times I logged in I was absolutely pelted with weird AI "cute cows" baby cows, highland cows, different color cows, all from different cow lover named sites. Often in the first comments you could see without clicking, it was clear some people thought they were real cows. Comically cute ridiculous cows. It was kind of surreal.
posted by Glinn at 9:22 AM on January 26
posted by Glinn at 9:22 AM on January 26
Now I’m curious one more step: does this pay off anywhere in sales of anything other than advertising ? Do slop photos of glurge sell more… anything? Or do they keep people on Facebook to be sold to see paid content?
posted by clew at 10:49 AM on January 26
posted by clew at 10:49 AM on January 26
Often in the first comments you could see without clicking, it was clear some people thought they were real cows.
But are the commenters human? I don't think we reliably know.
posted by inexorably_forward at 11:47 AM on January 26 [1 favorite]
But are the commenters human? I don't think we reliably know.
posted by inexorably_forward at 11:47 AM on January 26 [1 favorite]
The money comes from Amazon. Amazon will payout a small amount to who ever last showed the user the ad. The ai slop sites crams as many ads in as possible and then if that user later, as in days or weeks later, makes a purchase of anything that was listed they ‘earn’ that cash.
posted by zenon at 12:10 PM on January 26 [2 favorites]
posted by zenon at 12:10 PM on January 26 [2 favorites]
Huh. At what degree of market saturation is that not worth it for Amazon? If all of my shopping is on Amazon anyway, do they need anyone else to direct me to the options more profitable for them? 80% of my shopping?
If the third party hustle sites are cheaper for Amazon, are they subsidizing it somehow, like gig drivers losing money on overhead?
posted by clew at 1:33 PM on January 26
If the third party hustle sites are cheaper for Amazon, are they subsidizing it somehow, like gig drivers losing money on overhead?
posted by clew at 1:33 PM on January 26
This affiliate link hustle isn't just AI slop - its what drives companies to try and replicate The Wirecutter with clickbait farm stuff like Forbes Marketplace (mefi) or a big part of how coupon extension Honey (mefi) made a bunch of money.
posted by zenon at 10:30 AM on January 27
posted by zenon at 10:30 AM on January 27
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posted by rambling wanderlust at 4:29 AM on January 26 [1 favorite]