Shop ’til you slop.
So-called “AI slop gifts” are already turning up at thrift shops to be resold after duping holiday shoppers with misleading ads.
“Slop” — Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Word of the Year — refers to low-quality digital content produced by artificial intelligence, delivered to consumers via social media.
AI slop gifts are trinkets from companies that used AI to make them look better online than they do in reality, sometimes barely looking anything like what was shown in the AI-generated advertisement.
Companies online used AI to make gifts such as shirts, mugs, advent calendars and so on look like they were higher quality than they were — if the recipient even got it delivered in the first place.
These gifts fooled many this year, especially older generations, and just after Christmas, videos started popping up on social media with people showing off the items that deceived their parents.
“5 days after Christmas and the AI slop mugs are already in the thrift store,” one person wrote in the on-screen text of a cheap-looking mug made to resemble a stack of books.
“What’s sad is I’ve seen much worse than this one,” the user added in the caption.
Many people in the comments shared that they received similar AI slop gifts for the holidays, and the one shown wasn’t even the worst they’ve seen.
“That’s actually not the worst Ai mug I’ve seen that’s not bad,” one admitted.
“My mum got me an AI cat mug,” someone shared.
“I think this is the best quality ai book mug I’ve ever seen ngl…,” another wrote.
“i feel so bad for all the parents and grandparents that saw a picture of something they wanted to give to someone they love, just for it to be this stuff,” one said.
“Unmicrowaveable mug of deception and despair,” someone quipped.
Even actress Melissa Joan Hart fell for the AI slop gifts this year, buying herself a dress based on an AI-generated ad.
“What I ordered…. what I received!” she wrote on Instagram. “Online ordering sucks…PS this looks better in the photo than it does in person.”
“She’s not even 50 and she’s getting schooled by AI,” someone commented.
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