LinkedIn is cracking down on posts and comments written with the help of artificial intelligence, the Microsoft-owned company announced on Wednesday. The platform will suppress such content from recommendations, aiming to reduce what it calls 'AI slop'—low-effort, AI-generated material that lacks unique perspective or substance.
New Detection System
Laura Lorenzetti, vice president of product at LinkedIn, said the company's new detection system can correctly flag generic AI-generated content 94 per cent of the time in early tests. Posts flagged as AI-generated will not be removed but will be suppressed from recommendations, according to a company blog post.
'We're seeing a rise in what many call AI slop, content that is low-effort, AI-generated content that may sound polished on the surface but lacks any real unique perspective or substance,' Lorenzetti said. She added that the ultimate value of posts 'comes from the human behind the tool'.
Signals of AI Slop
The system has been trained to recognise signals such as 'content that feels generic or repetitive, even if it appears polished on the surface'. When content appears to be AI-generated and lacks a clear perspective, it is less likely to be widely distributed beyond a person's immediate network. LinkedIn hopes users will see less generic AI content from outside their network on their feed.
In tests, users already saw fewer such posts, and the company expects more of this feature to roll out across the platform. 'Bots and fake AI profiles ruin genuine engagement,' LinkedIn said, adding that the updates are designed to protect the experience so users interact with real people offering real perspectives.
Balancing AI Use
However, LinkedIn walks a fine line, as it enables users to use its own 'Rewrite with AI' feature in the post composer. The platform's messaging is not to ban AI outright but to ensure that the technology serves as a source of information while original thinking remains central.
LinkedIn's move is part of a broader trend among social media companies. Earlier this year, YouTube announced efforts to find and demonetise channels mass-producing inauthentic AI-generated content. TikTok and Meta have also enforced stricter rules requiring creators to label AI-generated content prominently.
