In a sense, Meta AI’s Vibes — an unending flow of AI-generated videos contributed by creators and available on the Meta AI app and website — reflects what Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg originally imagined when he established Facebook. While still residing in his Harvard dorm, Zuckerberg articulated to a prospective associate his ambition to craft a social platform not for job searches, but for continuous, mindless scrolling. “I kind of want to be the new MTV,” he remarked, according to a 2010 article on Facebook’s ambiguous backstory.

When I chose to immerse myself in a day of Vibes’ endless scroll, my initial reaction was that many Vibes are akin to 10-second snippets from music videos. Some evoke nostalgic ’80s music video aesthetics, while others recall the eccentric ’90s style reminiscent of Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry. The AI-generated pet videos frequently depict cats in warm environments or dogs dashing through fields, resembling scenes from a dystopian alternate universe where MTV and the Hallmark Channel have fused.

This isn’t a critique; I’ve relished music videos since my youth, and they continue to be my preferred method of getting energized while exercising on my rowing machine. Nonetheless, the finest videos, often crafted by aspiring filmmakers headed for Hollywood, narrate compelling tales. Without a storyline to bind them, even the most visually stunning visuals can swiftly become tedious.

That’s the challenge with Vibes: while aesthetically pleasing, none of these shorts convey a narrative. After a day of scrolling, it’s clear why social media users label Meta’s new offering as an “infinite slop machine.”

Is Vibes the direction of AI video? To be fair, there is a wealth of captivating AI art that narrates a story and leaves a meaningful impression. We have recently highlighted innovative pieces like this inventive food-themed body horror that gained traction on Reddit. The debate surrounding AI’s influence on copyright remains contentious, with a significant case making its way through the legal system after a judge declined to dismiss it.

Nonetheless, AI-generated video is now ubiquitous. YouTube permits AI video in shorts, and platforms like Imagine and Midjourney are vying to deliver content. We are in the age of AI-generated video for all, whether we appreciate it or not, making it crucial to remain aware of indicators of fabrications.

If Vibes signifies the future of AI video art, artists can find solace. Most artists recognize the significance of presentation and context; a piece of art often requires negative space surrounding it. Vibes crams visuals together like a 19th-century gallery with insufficient wall capacity, a style that fell out of favor for a reason.

The continuous sequence of shorts eventually swept over me, seldom leaving a lasting impression. There were exceptions, such as a video of Tom Hanks and Donald Trump sprinting through a cornfield. Hanks appeared alarmed, while Trump, with hair blowing in the breeze, seemed uncertain whether he was pursuing or racing. Thanks for the unsettling imagery, Vibes!

To be fair, Vibes also illustrates the advancements AI video has achieved in recent years. In this curated creator feed, there were few occurrences of hands with excessive fingers or torsos with additional limbs, traits often linked with AI slop. Occasionally, something within a video felt off — for instance, why are people at the beach gazing out to sea instead of at the dinosaurs charging past them on the boardwalk?

Overall, the concern isn’t the Uncanny Valley but rather hollow content. Younger viewers may find enjoyment in the strange visuals for hours (Vibes could be the new Baby Einstein). However, as the brain matures, it flourishes less on novelty. Our brains are designed for storytelling, which is why Facebook’s infinite scroll was once so engaging. We exchanged narratives and forged community stories by discussing them. Vibes is the video equivalent of the AI slop that has arguably rendered Zuckerberg’s social platform less captivating than ever.

In one regard, Zuckerberg is nearer to achieving his MTV vision than ever. Yet, in the storytelling aspect that draws us back for more, Meta’s infinite slop machine is markedly distant.