Her Terms Only: Is AI Entertainment truly the future that Gen Z wants?

Her Terms Only is Her World’s no-filter column that dives straight into the minds (and mouths) of women — and occasionally men — across generations to share unfiltered takes on the topics we’re often told not to talk about. From unpacking internalised sexism to confronting cultural taboos, this crowd-sourced series doesn’t tiptoe around the truth. It calls it out, flips the script, and challenges patriarchal norms and outdated gender roles in a uniquely Singaporean fashion.

You sneak a quick TikTok scroll during your break and stumble upon AI-generated content on your FYP. Would you stay, or scroll away?

More often than not, AI-generated content takes the form of a cheesy microdrama starring eerily human-looking characters or bizarrely addictive fruits on Love Island that took the internet by storm just a few months ago.

“AI slop”, referring to low-quality digital content made with AI and little to no human effort — is almost becoming difficult to escape from, no thanks to the algorithm. And despite the mixed opinions, the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Yet for all its visibility, “AI slop” isn’t exactly winning over Gen Z. As it becomes an increasingly common form of entertainment, many are quick to reject it, throwing tomatoes at anyone who dares admit they enjoy it. For a generation increasingly conscious of AI’s impact on creativity and the wider world, these soulless storylines and characters hardly seem worth choosing over something created by an actual human being.

But, here’s the catch: Ultimately, we’re still watching.

The truth is, we’re still feeding the machine. Every single interaction with the post, hateful intention or not, tells the algorithm the same thing: that people are watching. Engagement is engagement, and that’s enough to motivate the algorithm to continuously serve it back to us.

So, for a generation so vocal about putting down AI slop, why are we so quick to engage with it, share it and ultimately turn it into a trend?

AI-generated entertainment on the big screen

This contradiction becomes even more interesting when AI enters the wider entertainment industry. With the upcoming release of a locally made sci-fi film created using AI, controversy and backlash have already begun to surround the project. If we’re so willing to consume AI-generated content on TikTok, why are we so quick to reject it when it makes its way onto the big screen?

And more importantly, how much AI are we actually willing to accept in the entertainment we consume? We spoke to Singaporean Gen Zs about this contradiction, and where they draw the line when it comes to AI in entertainment.

Do we actually hate AI?

For some, the bizarre factor of AI content is precisely what makes it appealing. Its appeal doesn’t necessarily lie in its quality, but rather in its lack of it. Rather than picking a side between being pro or against AI, some simply watch because it’s ridiculous.

Perhaps we don’t necessarily enjoy the content itself, but the reaction it provokes. We feed off the disbelief it sparks, then send it to our friends for a laugh.

But this distinction becomes less clear when AI moves beyond brainrot TikToks and into serious, longer-form entertainment. For some, there is a firm line between an AI-generated meme and an AI-generated film. A meme might be consumed in seconds and forgotten just as quickly, whereas a film requires audiences to invest their time and money. As a result, it is undoubtedly held to a higher standard.

For them, the issue isn’t simply whether AI content is good or bad. It’s about what we might be giving up in the process. An AI meme might seem like harmless nonsense, but when AI enters filmmaking, it raises bigger questions about originality, creativity and, perhaps most importantly, the people whose jobs and livelihoods could be at stake.

And yet, others aren’t completely opposed to AI sharing a producer’s role, as long as it doesn’t take the humans out of the room.

Perhaps, then, Gen Z isn’t completely closed off to AI in entertainment after all. What we seem to be asking for is the human element, the knowledge that somewhere behind the screen, there is still a human’s originality and creativity behind this work.

Heart behind the art

If human involvement is truly what Gen Z is looking for, that could explain the growing appreciation for human-made content, even when it is, well, not very good.

Take Niu Lai, for example. The recently viral animated film has taken Chinese box offices by storm despite its less-than-polished visuals and cliché storyline that has given audiences plenty to poke fun at. But perhaps that’s also part of its charm. Behind the film are real people who spent years bringing it to life, and that effort is something AI simply can’t replicate.

Maybe that’s exactly why audiences find it so endearing. There’s something oddly charming about seeing someone pour years of work into something that’s clearly rough around the edges. Its imperfections don’t necessarily take away from it, but rather they’re part of what makes it feel real.

The sentiment seems to come through in the Gen Zs we spoke to: quality isn’t always the deciding factor. As AI-generated content becomes harder to escape, maybe what audiences are starting to value more is the one thing AI can’t quite replicate — the intention and feeling that comes from knowing a real person genuinely wanted to create something.

Where do we draw the line?

Perhaps Gen Z isn’t entirely opposed to AI after all. If AI can help a creator bring their vision to life, maybe that isn’t the problem. The problem is when the human touch disappears altogether.

When everything can be generated at the click of a button, perfection may not be what audiences are looking for. Instead, it’s the little imperfections that remind us there’s a real person behind the work, someone with genuine intention who cared enough to make it.

What makes something worth watching isn’t always its quality, but how human it feels.