URGENT UPDATE: Substack CEO Chris Best has just announced that artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to either inundate the internet with low-quality “slop” content or empower creators to ignite a cultural renaissance. In a revealing discussion on the latest episode of the a16z Podcast, Best emphasized the critical role of attention in today’s media landscape, stating, “We’ve entered a world where attention is the scarce resource.”
The warning comes as AI-generated content floods social media platforms, raising concerns about quality and engagement. Best remarked that while AI has the potential to churn out “AI slop”—content designed to keep users mindlessly scrolling—there exists an opportunity for a future where independent creators gain “more creative leverage.”
According to Best, the real challenge facing media today is not a lack of content but the scarcity of meaningful engagement. “There’s no scarcity of content, but there’s a huge scarcity of good content,” he explained. As technology advances, he sees the online environment being optimized for engagement in a way that resembles “drug addiction.”
Highlighting the urgent need for quality over quantity, Best noted, “That side of the media is going to get supercharged.” He acknowledged the growing concerns around AI’s impact on the media ecosystem. “The other purpose of media is culture,” he stated, underscoring the public’s desire for substantive content.
In July, Substack raised $100 million in funding, valuing the platform at approximately $1.1 billion. This funding is aimed at enhancing the platform’s capabilities for writers, allowing them to earn directly from their subscribers.
The rise of AI-generated content is not just a concern for industry leaders; it has also caught the attention of political figures. Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump expressed concern over a viral video he suspected might be AI-generated, calling it “a little bit scary.”
As the AI landscape evolves, startups like Faceless.video and AutoShorts.ai are capitalizing on this trend, automating content creation to help digital creators maximize their visibility. These platforms allow users to generate and post a staggering number of videos—ranging from three to 120 a month—without the traditional time investment required for video editing and content curation.
The implications of AI’s role in content creation are profound, with Best’s insights prompting urgent discussions among creators, consumers, and policymakers alike. The future of digital media hangs in the balance, and as Best pointed out, the potential for a cultural renaissance is at our fingertips.
WHAT’S NEXT: As AI continues to shape the media landscape, all eyes will be on how platforms like Substack adapt to these changes and how creators respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technology. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
