Gen Alpha Turns 'AI' Into Slang for Fake or Rubbish Content

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 24

Primary-school-age Gen Alpha is using “That’s AI!” as a put-down for anything seen as inauthentic, unbelievable or simply rubbish.
The phrase does not usually mean something was literally made by artificial intelligence; it reflects kids linking AI-generated material with content that looks convincing at first but feels cheap or dubious.
That broadened meaning now stretches to knockoff goods, exaggerated claims and even weak excuses, turning “AI” into a shorthand insult closer to “fake” or “nonsense.”
The shift captures a wider cultural backlash: while adults still debate AI’s promise and risks, younger users are already treating the term itself as a marker of low-value content.