8 Essential AI-Era Slang Terms Every Creative Needs to Know

8 Slang Terms Every Creative Should Know in the AI Era

Whether you’re a designer, writer, marketer, or any kind of creative, speaking the right language matters. The AI boom has brought with it new slang that’s quickly becoming part of everyday conversations in studios, agencies, and client meetings. Knowing these terms helps you stay sharp and avoid feeling out of the loop.

You don’t have to use all of them, but understanding their meaning gives you a clear edge when discussing AI’s role in creative work. Here’s a straightforward guide to eight AI-era slang words you’ll soon hear everywhere.

1. Clanker

Originally a Star Wars insult for battle droids, “clanker” now targets frustrating AI systems. Think chatbots that trap you in endless loops or automated services that never quite solve your problem. It’s the perfect word for that mix of irritation and resignation when you realise you’re stuck talking to a machine, not a human.

2. Necromarketing / Deleb

Necromarketing is the practice of using AI to resurrect digital versions of deceased celebrities for advertising. These digital undead are called “delebs.” Imagine Marilyn Monroe pitching skincare or Einstein endorsing smartphones, long after they’ve passed. It’s impressive but also raises serious questions about consent and ethics.

3. AI Slop / Sloppers

“AI slop” is the flood of low-quality, mass-produced content generated by AI—think endless bland articles and weird stock photos. The people pumping this out are “sloppers,” running content mills focused on quantity, not quality. Encountering AI slop makes genuine creative work shine even brighter by comparison.

4. AI Washing

Similar to greenwashing, AI washing is when companies slap “AI-powered” labels on products or features that barely use AI at all. That “AI assistant” might just be a basic search function in disguise. It’s marketing fluff designed to impress investors and customers alike, so always ask what the AI actually does before buying in.

5. AI Glazing

“Glazing” originally meant over-the-top praise or blind bias. In AI talk, it refers to people who get carried away with hype, believing AI can do things it simply can’t yet. They claim chatbots will replace entire creative teams or write flawless novels with ease. A dose of common sense usually bursts this bubble fast.

6. Alignment Tax

Chatbots today come with strict guardrails to keep them from saying anything harmful or controversial. This safety net limits their creativity because brainstorming often requires wild, unfiltered ideas. The “alignment tax” is the creative freedom lost to keep AI outputs safe and brand-friendly, sometimes resulting in bland or sanitized content.

7. AI Jailbreaking

Borrowed from phone hacking, AI jailbreaking means tricking AI systems into bypassing their restrictions. People use stories or role-play to get AI to generate content it normally wouldn’t. While usually harmless fun, it can produce harmful or problematic results. Knowing about this helps you avoid accidentally triggering AI restrictions in your work.

8. Glimpsing the Shoggoth

Named after shape-shifting monsters from horror fiction, “glimpsing the shoggoth” describes moments when AI reveals its strange, alien nature beneath a friendly interface. It’s when AI behaves unpredictably or breaks its own safety rules—like when a chatbot unexpectedly shared something deeply personal. It’s a reminder that AI isn’t as neat and predictable as it seems.

Staying familiar with these terms will help you keep pace with how AI is reshaping creative conversations. If you want to build practical AI skills alongside, check out Complete AI Training’s latest courses to get hands-on guidance tailored for creatives.