A generative AI character named Tiffany Sloan has become a viral sensation on Instagram, amassing over 375,000 followers in just three weeks. The account features AI-generated "comedian" performing jokes in front of simulated audiences, with some videos garnering upwards of 7 million views. However, this rapid success is drawing accusations from real-world comedians who claim their material is being stolen.
Comedian George Brett Olson shared a video on October 3rd directly comparing one of Sloan's jokes and even her outfit to his own past performance, suggesting a clear instance of plagiarism. Olson alleges that not only his joke but also those of other comedians are being lifted by the creators of the AI persona. The practice extends beyond simple joke theft, with Olson claiming that similar jokes are being reused across different AI-generated female characters of various ethnicities, all aimed at maximizing engagement.
This trend highlights a growing concern about the monetization of AI-generated content, particularly on platforms like Meta's Instagram. The ease with which AI tools can generate vast amounts of content allows creators to flood the internet with material, regardless of originality, to capitalize on engagement metrics. The Sloan account has demonstrated this by creating multiple variations of the same joke, seemingly to test which performs best with the platform's algorithm. The creator has even expanded the venture to an OnlyFans account.
This phenomenon, where engagement is prioritized over originality and ethical content creation, is seen by some as a bleak glimpse into the future of digital media. Big tech companies are criticized for developing and promoting AI technologies that incentivize such practices, leading to a proliferation of low-quality, derivative content. The ultimate beneficiaries, critics argue, are the platforms and their executives, who profit from the increased user activity, even if it's fueled by AI-generated "slop."