ai-slop
Scope: marketing sites, product interfaces, dashboards, portfolios, editorial pages, and e-commerce. Complements frontend-design: that skill builds the interface, this one is the detailed rubric for judging whether the result is generic ("AI slop") or genuinely fit for the product.
This is not a universal style guide. It does not ban a visual style merely because AI systems use it often — a gradient, card grid, serif headline, glass surface, or dark theme may be appropriate. It becomes a slop signal when used by reflex rather than because the product, audience, content, interaction, or brand requires it.
MUST/MUST NOT are required for acceptance; SHOULD/SHOULD NOT are default rules whose deviations need a written rationale; MAY is optional and context-dependent.
1. Core definition
AI slop is superficially competent output that lacks sufficient intention, grounding, specificity, coherence, truthfulness, or product fit. It usually shows up as one or more of:
- Default-driven — recognizable model/template reflexes replace deliberate decisions.
- Interchangeable — could be relabeled for another product with minimal change.
- Ungrounded — content, claims, visuals, or features aren't supported by the brief or evidence.
- Incoherent — polished elements that don't form one consistent system.
- Decorative without purpose — effects attract attention without clarifying hierarchy, meaning, state, or action.
- Quantity-over-value — extra sections/cards/copy exist mainly to look complete.
- Unreviewed — obvious responsive, accessibility, factual, or interaction defects remain.
- Overfitted to current AI aesthetics — follows the fashionable model output distribution rather than the project's needs.