Steam submission fees reduce AI slop growth

The author argues that AI slop is fundamentally an incentive problem driven by platforms rewarding content quantity over quality, rather than a flaw of AI itself. Comparing video game uploads on Steam and itch.io, the data suggests that Steam's submission fee acts as a deterrent that screens out low-value content. The author contends that platforms could curb slop by taxing quantity explicitly through fees or implicitly through algorithmic penalties, though advertising-driven platforms have little incentive to do so. Open article →