| version | 1.0.0 |
| name | anti-ai-slop |
| description | Apply this skill whenever the user wants to audit, fix, redesign, write, or review UI, UX, copy, or text to avoid the generic "AI slop" aesthetic of 2025–2026.
|
| category | quality |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Edit Glob Grep |
| license | MIT |
Anti-AI-Slop Skill — 2026 Edition
AI tools flooded the design and copy space. The result: a recognizable monoculture. This skill is a systematic antidote.
How to Use This Skill
- Audit mode — Run through the diagnostic checklists. Name the sin before fixing it.
- Creation mode — edit_file work that avoids all listed patterns.
- Spot-fix mode — Diagnose specific element, explain why it's sloppy, rewrite/redesign it.
Part 1 — AI-Slop UI Patterns
The Canon of Slop
| Pattern | What it looks like | Why it's slop |
|---|
| Purple gradient hero | #7c3aed → #2563eb on white bg | Default Tailwind AI app palette |
| Glassmorphism cards | Frosted glass, backdrop-blur | Overused since iOS 15 |
| Rounded everything | border-radius: 24px+ | Removes personality |
| Inter / DM Sans | Default "modern" sans | Signals AI-generated UI |
| Hero headline formula | [Verb] your [noun] with [product] | Indistinguishable from 10,000 others |
| Three-column feature grid | Icon + bold label + 1 sentence | Every SaaS landing page |
| CTA: "Get started for free" | Large button, primary color | Meaningless |
| Empty states with illustration | Lottie animation or SVG blob | Cute once, now patronizing |
| Dark mode = black + purple | #0f0f0f + #8b5cf6 | Hacker aesthetic |
| Animated gradient text | Moving rainbow on headline | Peak 2023 startup energy |
What to Do Instead
- Typography first. Choose fonts specific to the context. Use serif with character for body.
- Commit to one extreme. Brutally minimal OR maximally dense. The middle is where slop lives.
- Use real color theory. Complementary pairs, analogous schemes. Not "purple because AI."
- Reference actual design movements. Swiss grid. Bauhaus. Brutalist web.
Part 2 — AI-Slop UX Patterns
The Canon of Slop
| Pattern | Why it's slop |
|---|
| Onboarding modal on first load | Interrupts before context |
| 5-step onboarding wizard | Treats users as suspects |
| Tooltip tours | Teaches wrong interface |
| "Are you sure?" confirm dialogs | Trust issues. Use undo instead. |
| Generic empty states | Zero help |
| Toast notifications for everything | Noise. Users ignore them. |
| Search that requires exact match | Punishes user for trusting product |
| Form with 8+ fields to get started | Commitment before value |
| Hamburger menu on desktop | Discovery failure |
What to Do Instead
- Don't teach the UI — fix the UI. If users need a tour, redesign.
- Undo over confirm. 5-10 second undo window on destructive actions.
- Progressive disclosure. Start with minimum viable form.
- Optimistic UI. Show outcome immediately, reconcile in background.
Part 3 — AI-Slop Copy Patterns
Hollow Affirmations
Words that exist only to fill space:
- "Absolutely!", "Certainly!", "Great question!"
- "Sounds great!", "That makes sense!"
Fix: Delete them. Start with actual content.
AI Corporate Superlatives
- "Powerful", "seamless", "intuitive", "robust"
- "Cutting-edge", "state-of-the-art"
- "Supercharge your..."
Fix: Replace with specific claims. What does it actually do? By how much?
Transition Theater
- "In conclusion...", "To summarize...", "In essence..."
- "It's worth noting that..."
Fix: Just say the thing. These delay the idea without adding.
Emoji Inflation
Using 🚀 💡 ✨ ⚡ 🔥 as substitutes for meaning.
Fix: Use zero unless context is genuinely casual. If you use one, mean it.
UX Writing Sins
| Sin | Example | Fix |
|---|
| Error: blame user | "Invalid input" | "Email addresses need an @ sign" |
| CTA: describe UI action | "Click here" | "Download the report" |
| Success: announce action | "Saved!" | "Changes saved — live in 30 seconds" |
| Placeholder as label | Input with placeholder "Email" | Use a real label |
Part 4 — Audit Workflow
-
Scan for patterns. Check all canons. List every match by name.
-
Score severity:
- 🔴 Structural — Requires redesign. Fundamental problem.
- 🟡 Surface — Easy fix. Wrong word or color.
- 🟢 Cosmetic — Minor polish.
-
Prioritize. Fix structural first.
-
Rewrite/redesign. Specific replacement, not generic advice.
Part 5 — The Positive Doctrine
Design
- Specificity > universality. Design for this user, this task.
- Tension is interest. Contrast, asymmetry are memorable.
- Constraints create identity. Impose real restrictions.
UX
- Respect user's time. Every click is a tax. Minimize it.
- Be opinionated. Show best path. Don't present 6 equal options.
Copy
- Specific > general. "Saves 3 hours" > "Saves time"
- Active > passive. "We deleted it" > "It was deleted"
- Short > long. Cut every word that doesn't earn its place.
- Write for one person. Not "users". The specific human who will read this.
EPUB Reader Specific
Reader UI Anti-Patterns
| Pattern | Why it's slop |
|---|
| Generic "Welcome" modal on first EPUB | Interrupts reading flow |
| Progress bar with percentage only | Should show chapter location |
| Settings hidden in hamburger menu | Accessibility fail on desktop |
Backbone: Impeccable Deterministic Rules
This skill provides LLM critique and project-specific anti-references. For machine-checkable detection:
- CLI:
npx impeccable detect --json . — 44 deterministic rules (no LLM needed)
- CI: Runs in
./scripts/quality_gate.sh (respects SKIP_DESIGN=1)
- Commands:
/impeccable audit, /impeccable critique for deeper review
- Config:
.impeccable/config.json — ignoreValues for project-specific overrides
Impeccable catches: side-tab borders, purple gradients, bounce easing, dark glows, overused fonts, nested cards, gray-on-color, small touch targets, cramped padding, line length, skipped headings.
Integration
- code-review-assistant: Use in PR reviews
- reader-ui-ux: Apply to EPUB reader
- impeccable: Deterministic backbone (this skill = LLM judgment)
Quality Checklist
Summary
Anti-slop is a discipline, not a style. Choose specificity over templates, tension over harmony, and respect for users over pleasing everyone.
