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  1. Economist Podcasts
  2. Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators
Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts · Dec 22, 2025

AI's 'slop' reshapes media, cross-gender friendships predict societal health, and yellow gold makes a surprising comeback in engagement rings.

A Nation's Rate of Cross-Gender Friendships Strongly Predicts Female Labor Force Participation

Analysis of Facebook data reveals that the prevalence of male-female friendships is the best predictor for the ratio of women working relative to men. This suggests societies with greater social integration between genders also foster more equitable economic opportunities for women.

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators thumbnail

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Infinite AI Content Makes Top Creators Bigger, Not Smaller

Contrary to expectations, the flood of AI-generated content doesn't dilute the success of top artists. In a sea of infinite choice, users rely more on algorithms, which tend to amplify the reach of already popular stars, making the biggest names more dominant than ever.

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators thumbnail

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Yellow Gold's Resurgence in Rings Is Driven By Its Value as a Safe-Haven Investment

The renewed popularity of yellow gold engagement rings is not just a fleeting celebrity trend. With gold prices hitting record highs, consumers are viewing it as a sensible long-term investment, merging the symbolism of a wedding ring with the pragmatic appeal of an asset that holds value.

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators thumbnail

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

AI-Powered Amateur Creators Dilute Bargaining Power of Hollywood and Record Labels

As AI tools enable millions of amateur creators to produce professional-quality content, platforms like YouTube and Spotify become less reliant on a small number of mainstream media giants. This diffusion of content creation shifts bargaining power away from traditional studios and labels to the platforms themselves.

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators thumbnail

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Having Female Friends Makes Adolescent Boys Less Sexist, But the Reverse Isn't True for Girls

A study found that teenage boys with more female friends developed more egalitarian views over time. However, the number of male friends did not affect girls' views on gender roles, suggesting that for boys, direct exposure to female peers is a powerful force in shaping less sexist attitudes.

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators thumbnail

Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago