LinkedIn adds 'AI slop' reporting tool to combat low-quality generative content
The professional network is shifting from encouraging AI-assisted writing to actively policing it to preserve human authenticity.
LinkedIn has introduced a new reporting feature labeled "Seems like AI slop," allowing users to flag low-quality, AI-generated content in their feeds. The move signals a strategic pivot for the platform as it attempts to purge the high-volume, low-effort generative AI posts that have increasingly crowded professional networking.
The new reporting button enables users to alert the platform to inauthentic content, and these signals will be used to train and tune LinkedIn's AI classifiers. To further discourage the use of generic AI generation, the company is replacing its "enhance your post" rewrite tool with a proofreader designed to maintain the writer's original voice. Additionally, LinkedIn is now privately notifying users via dashboards when their content is perceived as inauthentic due to heavy AI use. The scale of the problem is significant; LinkedIn reports blocking hundreds of thousands of automated comment attempts daily and millions of other automation attempts in recent months.
The Rise of Social Slop
This crackdown comes as generative AI floods social media with repetitive, formulaic content. The issue is particularly acute on LinkedIn, where the volume of corporate AI-generated material has drawn widespread criticism. Data from Pangram highlights the severity of the trend, indicating that LinkedIn posts accounted for 62% of all AI content flagged across popular long-form social platforms. This environment has prompted other platforms to take preemptive action; Substack, for instance, recently partnered with Pangram to integrate AI detection tools specifically to avoid the pitfalls currently facing LinkedIn.
Preserving Professional Authenticity
By relying on human signals rather than solely on automated detectors, LinkedIn is attempting to bypass the inherent inaccuracy of AI detection tools. Hari Srinivasan, LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer, stated that the goal is for members to receive feedback from "real humans on what sounds authentic," rather than relying on a detector that might get it wrong. Srinivasan noted that because the definition of "slop" is fluid and constantly changing, user reports are essential for tuning models and improving feed quality.
The Future of the Feed
As the platform moves toward a more restrictive AI policy, the focus shifts to whether user-led reporting can effectively curb the incentive for AI-driven engagement farming. LinkedIn's ability to maintain a professional environment depends on its success in balancing AI utility with the "real perspectives, ideas, and expertise" that Srinivasan says users come to the platform to find. The industry will be watching to see if this human-in-the-loop approach successfully restores authenticity to the professional feed.