Is Your Station Guilty of AI Slop?

I spend a good chunk of time every week browsing through radio station websites—some of our clients, some not. Lately, I’ve seen a big uptick in AI-generated content and imagery across these sites. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing.

When done right, AI can be a powerful tool. I’ve seen some stations using it to generate sharp headlines, clean blog layouts, and compelling local stories that look and sound fantastic. I’ve even caught myself doing a double-take on a few AI images—they were that good.

But for every piece that impresses me, there’s another that makes me cringe.

A story that clearly reads like a first-draft ChatGPT response, or a headline that sounds robotic and vague. A promo graphic with fingers that look like spaghetti, or a Christmas event image showing snow on palm trees. Little things—details that might seem harmless—but they stand out. And when they do, they scream “lazy.”

We’ve entered the era of “AI slop.” So much so that “slop” was Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Word of the Year, thanks to the flood of low-quality AI content polluting the web. And here’s the thing—your audience notices.

What Is AI Slop, Exactly?

AI slop is any content that’s obviously machine-generated and left unchecked. It’s generic, inaccurate, off-brand, or just plain weird. It might be:

• A blog post that sounds like a robot wrote it—with no local flavor or voice.
• An image with garbled text or unhuman-like hands.
• A headline that says a lot, but means nothing.

The more your site is filled with this kind of content, the more it erodes trust. Listeners might not say anything out loud, but they’ll remember how your site made them feel—and that’s what drives return visits (or the lack of them).

Why the Details Matter

AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s in newsrooms, on websites, behind the scenes in social media, in on-air scripts, and even on-air as “personalities”. But here’s the kicker: just because AI is common doesn’t mean it gets a pass. If anything, expectations are higher now.

Your audience assumes AI is part of the process—but they also assume you’re paying attention. They expect you to review, refine, and polish the content before it hits their screen. When you don’t, it shows.

Common AI Slop Traps (And How to Avoid Them)

Here are some of the most common slip-ups I see—and how to stay clear of them:

1) Text That Doesn’t Sound Like You

AI can write a full blog post in seconds—but it won’t sound like your station unless you put in the work.
Fix: Use AI for ideas, outlines, or drafts. Then rewrite it in your voice. Add names, local places, emotion, and personality.

2) Images with “Tells”

Missing fingers, strange backgrounds, unreadable alien text, or unnatural poses—these are dead giveaways.
Fix: Always review AI-generated images before publishing. Zoom in. Ask, “Would I post this on our station’s social feed?” If not, fix it or replace it.

3) Content Without Context

A generic post about “Top 5 Summer Events” won’t resonate in December. A local news article with no local angle? Pointless.
Fix: Always localize. Tweak the copy to reflect what’s happening in your community, not a fictional AI suburb.

4) Overuse of AI Outputs Without Editing

AI isn’t a fire-and-forget tool. It’s not supposed to replace your content team—it’s there to support them.
Fix: Slow down. Give yourself time to review and revise. One great post is worth more than five generic ones.

Your Brand Deserves Better

Whether it’s a blog post, an event listing, or a homepage graphic—every piece of content is a reflection of your station. Don’t let shortcuts tarnish that. AI can save you time, spark creativity, and even improve consistency—but only if you pair it with human judgment.

In other words: use AI. Just don’t abuse it or take for granted that your audience will overlook AI’s mistakes. When your content feels authentic, polished, and professional – that’s when your audience sticks around—and advertisers take notice.