Meta now has a feed for AI slop
Not all Vibes are good vibes.
Meta has rolled out a new feature called Vibes within its Meta AI app and website. This new feed is dedicated entirely to AI-generated short-form videos, directly competing with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels but with a major difference: all the content is created by artificial intelligence.
What is 'Vibes'?
Vibes is a feed where users can:
Browse and watch AI-generated videos created by others.
Generate their own videos from text prompts.
Remix existing videos from the feed by adding music, changing styles, or incorporating new visuals.
The goal is to create a hub for creative experimentation with AI, and according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, it's "an early look at some of the new product directions we're exploring." The company is currently using models from third-party partners like Midjourney and Black Forest Labs, while it continues to develop its own in-house AI technology.
The "AI Slop" Controversy
While Meta positions Vibes as a creative playground, it has been met with significant criticism from users and commentators. The term "AI slop" has been widely used to describe the content, highlighting concerns that it is:
Low-quality and unoriginal: Much of the content is seen as generic, bizarre, and lacking the personal touch and creativity of human-made videos.
Inauthentic: The feed is a collection of videos created by machines, which raises questions about the purpose of social media, traditionally a place for real human connection and self-expression.
Potentially overwhelming: Critics worry that platforms will be flooded with an endless stream of this synthetic content, making it harder for users to find authentic, meaningful videos.
The launch of Vibes is part of Meta's larger push into generative AI, but it also underscores the growing tension between technological innovation and user demand. While some see a future where AI-generated content is the norm, many users are pushing back against the idea that more synthetic content is a good thing for their feeds.
