AI Slop Overload: Curl Developer Battles Bug Bounty Chaos

Daniel Stenberg, the mastermind behind curl, is drowning in AI slop—bogus bug reports from AI tools. As AI slop soars, making up about 20% of submissions, Stenberg ponders ending curl’s bug bounty program. With only a small team to handle the chaos, he’s mulling over ways to stem the AI-generated tide.

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Hot Take:

Oh, the humanity! Or should I say, oh, the AI-manity? Daniel Stenberg, the mastermind behind curl, is battling an avalanche of ‘AI slop’—the digital equivalent of receiving chain letters, but instead of promising good fortune, they promise endless headaches. It’s like trying to clean up a glitter spill with a leaf blower. Stenberg’s been left wondering if the bug bounty program is worth the effort, or if he should just curl up with a good book instead.

Key Points:

– Stenberg and the curl team are overwhelmed by AI-generated bogus bug reports.
– There’s been a significant increase in AI slop submissions in 2025.
– The curl bug bounty program may face reevaluation due to the AI deluge.
– Stenberg suggests potential solutions but remains uncertain about their effectiveness.
– Similar problems are affecting other open-source projects like Python and Open Collective.

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