Algorithms Ruined Mass Culture. Slop Filled the Void.

Mr. Brooks is a writer in Missoula, Mont.

In March, a TikTok account called ai.cinema021 published 20-plus episodes of an A.I.-generated “dating” show about humanoid fruit called “Fruit Love Island.” The fruits are aggressively sexualized, with ripped abs or large breasts. Their dialogue is clichéd yet alien at the same time, like how a TV might learn to talk by watching other TVs. For example:

Bananito: I’m here to have fun and probably break a few hearts.Orangelo: [Laughs.] Bro said the quiet part out loud.

Bananito: I’m here to have fun and probably break a few hearts.Orangelo: [Laughs.] Bro said the quiet part out loud.

It feels quaint to point out the many continuity errors: From cut to cut, the fruits wear different clothes or appear at different locations and times of day. Many episodes involve them gratuitously doing backflips.

This description will not seem remarkable to readers who have consumed a sufficient amount of A.I.-generated content, colloquially called........

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