The Big Slop: Part 1 ft. Jason Koebler

Welcome to part one of ‘Slop Week’, where we try to understand the incentives that have led to the internet being filled with incomprehensible, aimless content, and how it’s reshaping the way people communicate online.

Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media and the host of the 404 Media podcast, joins us to talk about his recent investigation into junk AI on Facebook, and the the Indian Youtube influencers making online courses teaching people how to make slop around the clock. Jason explains how the creation of AI Slop is much more calculated and structured than we would otherwise think, how Facebook/Meta uses Indian slop creators to test and train its AI, and whether the internet could malfunction if AI projects are abandoned, leaving behind a whole trail of nonsensical images in its wake. 

Read Jason’s Investigation, “Where AI Slop comes from”, here: https://www.404media.co/where-facebooks-ai-slop-comes-from/

Listen to the 404 Media podcast, here: https://www.404media.co/the-404-media-podcast/

-------

PALESTINE AID LINKS As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Gaza, we encourage anyone who can to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians. You can donate using the links below. Please also donate to the gofundmes of people trying to escape Rafah, or purchase ESIMs. These links are for if you need a well-respected name attached to a fund to feel comfortable sending money. https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donate

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-can-help/emergencies/gaza-israel-conflict --------

PHOEBE ALERT Can't get enough Phoebe? Check out her Substack Here!

--------

This show is supported by Patreon. Sign up for as little as $5 a month to gain access to a new bonus episode every week, and our entire backlog of bonus episodes! Thats https://www.patreon.com/10kpostspodcast

--------

Ten Thousand Posts is a show about how everything is posting. It's hosted by Hussein (@HKesvani), Phoebe (@PRHRoy) and produced by Devon (@Devon_onEarth).