In recent discussions, the phenomenon of “brain rot” has emerged as a significant explanation for various issues ranging from large language models (LLMs) and long COVID to flawed economic and political science theories—or perhaps it’s the other way around.
LLMs: Inducing Brain Rot?
Just yesterday, Conor shared an insightful piece about OpenAI integrating shopping into ChatGPT. This appears to be an attempt to induce brain rot among its users:
AI-generated responses create what researchers refer to as an “advice illusion.” When ChatGPT lists three hotel options, they don’t come across as advertisements; instead, they resemble recommendations from a knowledgeable friend. However, you cannot discern whether those hotels paid for placement or if there are better alternatives that were not shown.
Unlike traditional advertising, which most people can recognize and dismiss, AI recommendations project an air of objectivity, even when they are not. With the convenience of one-click purchasing, the entire process feels seamless, often at the cost of thorough decision-making.
OpenAI is not the sole player in this field. This month, Google unveiled its competing protocol, AP2, and tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are developing similar systems. The company that prevails can potentially dictate how billions of consumers make purchases, capturing part of a trillion-dollar market.
High on Vibes
The Atlantic recently reported on Meta’s latest venture, an AI-based social network called Vibes.
Note: When considering anything associated with Meta these days, keep in mind that Zuckerberg has invested at least $46.5 billion into his controversial Metaverse initiative (for the counter-narrative, check out this Bloomberg article, which argues that “analysts believe the shift from Facebook to Meta is finally showing results as the company invests heavily in its Orion augmented reality glasses.”)
Whether Orion will resonate with consumers remains uncertain. For now, here’s a closer look at Vibes:
Vibes is a new social platform embedded within the Meta AI app but lacking any real users. Here, individuals can create accounts and request the company’s vast language model to visualize their concepts. The resulting videos are presented to others in a TikTok-style feed, albeit seemingly at random. OpenAI’s recent Sora 2 app shares a similar format. The videos are visually polished, showcasing an ultra-processed aesthetic characteristic of contemporary generative AI art. While each video may captivate initially, its value diminishes quickly after the first viewing. Collectively, they create an overwhelming, almost intoxicating effect: contextless, numbing, and most notably, endless. Each subsequent clip is easy to consume yet wholly dissatisfying.
I switch to another tab to see an AI video from President Donald Trump, shared on the day of the “No Kings” protests. In it, the president dons a crown while launching a fighter jet adorned with the phrase King Trump, hovering above Times Square and raining what appears to be liquid onto protesters below, all set to the tune of “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins.
Switching tabs again, I spot a post on X showcasing an AI image of Trump and Vice President J. D. Vance, both crowned. A MAGA influencer has been taken in by an AI-generated poster for a fictitious Super Bowl halftime show that humorously lists “measles” among its performers. More AI videos capture bizarre moments, such as a chef placing the Pokémon character Pikachu into a sous-vide machine and a perfectly rendered fake toy commercial for a “Jeffrey Epstein’s Island” play set. These clips also bear the distinctive Sora 2 watermark, which has become a popular tag for genuine videos as a form of trolling.
Here’s the Trump video that encapsulates this moment of brain rot:
Why Is Trump Engaging in Trolling?
The increasingly pro-Trump John Michael Greer offers a theory:
Trump has recognized the effectiveness of mocking his adversaries over arguing with them. He employs teams of meme creators to achieve this. His intent seems to be to shatter the facade of enforced politeness that many on the left maintain, knowing that once this is broken, all their repressed frustrations will emerge, much like Biden’s infamous Reichstag speech did to valuable voters.
The backlash to Kirk’s murder exemplifies what he seeks to provoke, and his opponents are falling into the trap all too easily.
— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) October 23, 2025
Let’s explore how the pressure from the growing AI bubble might be causing brain rot among technology executives.
AI Revenue Takeaways
To comprehend the stakes involved here, it helps to look at the financial dynamics surrounding OpenAI. That’s why I deemed OpenAI a “money pit” back in June.
In September, The Information reported that OpenAI is contemplating significant financial commitments:
Revenue growth from ChatGPT is progressing at a faster rate than anticipated just six months ago. However, the downside is that the computing expenses required for developing the AI behind the chatbot—and related data center costs—are escalating even more quickly.
Consequently, OpenAI now predicts its cash expenditure will intensify, reaching an overwhelming total of $115 billion by 2029, which is about $80 billion more than earlier estimates.
This unprecedented projected spending is a primary reason behind the company seeking more capital than any private entity before it. CEO Sam Altman noted that they might be “the most capital-intensive” startup ever, with projected total revenues soaring to an estimated $200 billion by 2030.
ChatGPT plays a significant role in these projections, with expectations that the chatbot could yield nearly $70 billion in added revenue over the next several years. Millions of users and countless businesses pay subscription fees to access ChatGPT.
OpenAI’s Ambitious Revenue Goals
OpenAI has been enthusiastic about massive revenue expansion, but Gary Marcus is skeptical that those goals are achievable:
Realistically, OpenAI can only reach its ambitious revenue projections—expanding revenue by over 1,200% in five years—if the earnings from significant business clients continue to surge consistently.
He provides several data visuals and tweets to support his assertions.
The Decline of Generative AI in the Workforce
Recent reports indicate a decrease in the use of generative AI in the American job market:
Hartley, Jolevski, Melo, and Moore have been monitoring generative AI usage among Americans since December 2024. They found that participation dropped from 45.6% in June 2025 to just 36.7% in September 2025.
I wonder if OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic are witnessing a similar downturn… https://t.co/hjnss5u6vj
— Erik Brynjolfsson (@erikbryn) October 22, 2025
Consumer Video Generation and Possible Failures
OpenAI’s consumer video generation app Sora hasn’t garnered much goodwill either. Adam Conover’s video titled “Sora Proves the AI Bubble Is Going to Burst So Hard” explains the app’s poor reception:
Sora 2 is one of the most bizarre—and arguably worst—apps available today. When you open Sora, you may find countless grotesque videos featuring Sam Altman as users exploit his likeness to create deeply uncomfortable content.
Conover also discusses an article from the Washington Post that surveys the unsettling nature of the app:
Individuals like Ilyasah Shabazz express discomfort with the AI-generated clips featuring her father, Malcolm X. These disturbingly realistic portrayals depict the civil rights icon engaging in inappropriate and disrespectful behaviors, further fueling the app’s controversy.
AI Apps Contributing to Brain Rot
Discussions around brain rot also involve the recent observations by Boris Johnson about his use of ChatGPT during an interview with Al Arabiya:
“I absolutely adore ChatGPT,” Johnson stated. Known for his penchant for exaggeration and embellishment, he humorously informed the interviewer that he employs ChatGPT to help with writing various books and enjoys hearing the model praise his inquiries.
Long COVID: A Contributor to Brain Rot
The impact of long COVID is taking center stage as well, particularly in U.S. schools as highlighted by Rolling Stone:
In the aftermath of long COVID, a student named Lia endured debilitating symptoms, affecting her health and education as she struggled with fatigue, brain fog, and persistent illness over a few years.
The Influence of Billionaires on Academia
A compelling recent interview featuring Aaron Good with BetBett Media touched on the degradation of academic quality in Western economic theories:
Billionaires have a vested interest in controlling narratives in political science and economics, resulting in a distorted understanding of these fields. The focus has shifted away from genuine inquiry to maintaining the illusions that support prevailing power structures.
The Future of Employment Amidst AI Growth
Lastly, this theme is echoed in a video by Cy Canterel:
Silicon Valley seems engaged in a deceptive endeavor, convincing the world that advancing AI requires the eradication of human intelligence and jobs at an industrial scale. As investors pour vast sums into AI, the prospect of job elimination without adequate replacement threatens to create economic instability.
That wraps up today’s exploration of brain rot across various sectors. We’ll reconvene on Friday morning for further discussions.
