The Know Daily - Wednesday 12 August 2026

_{Read in 4m 11s ∙ Listening to Jennifer Lopez ∙}

Forget the Olympics – the World Dog Surfing Championships have just crowned new canines. 🐶 Pups of all sizes hit the waves alongside their humans in California, with thousands of people turning up to cheer them on. And judging by the wagging tails and excited pups, it certainly looked like the competitors were having as much fun as the crowds. Now that’s what we call a paw-some sporting event!

🤖 AI slop

More and more people are using the phrase “AI slop” to describe the stuff filling up their feeds. But what counts as slop and how do we spot it?

So… what actually is AI slop?
“AI slop” is a fairly loose term for AI-generated content that feels low-effort and made mainly to grab attention. It can be anything from strange AI images and fake-looking videos to generic articles and clickbait stories. The important bit is that AI-generated doesn't automatically mean AI slop. Someone can use AI as part of a thoughtful creative project, just as they might use Photoshop or editing software. Fun fact: “slop” was Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Word of the Year.

Why are people making it?
It mainly comes down to money. Generative AI makes it cheap and quick to produce huge amounts of content, which can then be used to chase clicks, views, followers or advertising revenue. Some creators are deliberately making bizarre or sensational AI videos because they know people are likely to stop scrolling and watch them. Others are using AI to produce content at scale for websites and social media, where quantity can sometimes matter almost as much as quality. The result is a bit like the internet equivalent of fast food: quick to make and easy to consume. But the approach often doesn’t land well with viewers, with a poll by Gallup showing that nearly half of adults aged 18 to 29 now believe generative AI does more harm than good.

So what are platforms doing about it?
As reported by the BBC, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that social media has entered a “third phase”, which is now centred around AI. But most platforms are starting to take the backlash seriously, although the approach varies. LinkedIn has introduced a new “seems like AI slop” reporting option, allowing users to flag posts they think are low-quality AI-generated content, and says it is working to reduce the reach of this kind of material. Snapchat has also stopped rewarding fully AI-generated content through its Spotlight monetisation programme. More broadly, platforms including Meta, Substack and others have been changing or pulling back some AI features as users push back against content that feels automated.

OK, but how can I spot it?
🔁 Look for repetition. Does the post sound oddly generic, repeat the same ideas or make big statements without saying much?
🔍 Check the details. With AI images, look out for things that don't quite add up – strange hands, wonky text, odd logos or objects that don't make sense.
👀 Have a look at the account. If it's suddenly posting loads of very similar images, videos or posts, that could be a sign they're being produced at scale.
🤔 Trust your gut. If something looks incredibly polished but feels strangely empty, or seems designed purely to make you gasp, laugh or get angry, take a second look before sharing it.

PSA: you know who doesn’t do AI slop? Us! We are so proud that real journalists are behind each and every one of our daily roundups, and we take our role in bringing the community news they can trust very seriously. If you have even just a couple of pounds to spare, every single donation helps us keep the good stuff coming throughout 2026 and beyond. 💌

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💻 Remote work could be making it harder for young people to land their first jobs, according to new research from Harvard Business Review.

• The bigger story: Researchers analysed more than 50 million European job postings and found that fully remote roles typically asked for around 25% more skills, experience and qualifications than similar in-person jobs. They argue that remote working can make it harder for new employees to access informal mentoring and on-the-job learning, encouraging employers to favour people who already have experience. The study suggests hybrid working may avoid some of these effects, while better mentoring and training could help companies hire more for potential rather than experience.

📖 Barack Obama will host a new podcast about books that have shaped his worldview, with titles by Toni Morrison and John le Carré set to feature.

💍 Friendship proposals are on the rise with new data from Etsy showing 57% of Gen Z have carried out a formal "friend-proposal" to ask someone to be their best friend.

📞 Unsolicited telemarketing calls have been banned in France as part of a wider effort to protect consumers and vulnerable people.

💊 Had a side effect from a medicine? Here’s how to report it, helping health authorities spot potential problems and keep other patients safe.

🐡 A “moody punk rocker” fish has become the 18,000th species to be photographed in the National Geographic Photo Ark, raising awareness for endangered species.

🏰 Fancy a castle-crawling adventure? A new interactive map plots more than 6,600 castles, fortresses and palaces across 140 countries – perfect for planning your next medieval getaway.

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Trivia answer: B) The “Way of St Francis” is one of the country’s biggest hiking projects in years.

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