A Tale of Two Cities: AI Video Slop and Vibe Coding
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times
Recent AI advancements show a tale of two trends. While AI video generators have seen huge improvements, the current trend is disappointing “AI Video Slop.” In contrast, “Vibe Coding” tools for web design have rapidly reached a point of surprising quality and utility.
In December of last year I was accepted into Runway’s Creative Partner Program which means that I have free and unlimited access to their tools. Normally, this would cost $100 month which is a lot of money for something that’s not quite ready for professional use. I was really grateful for this opportunity, and I experimented and built things every day. I thought that if I just kept honing my craft, I could achieve some sort of success as an AI Filmmaker (whatever that means). Not everything worked out, but Runway (and all the other tools) were improving every few weeks, my students wear actively using them in my classes, and I was stretching and growing as a designer.
Here’s an example of what I was making in February 2025
When Google released VEO 2 in May, I was stunned and amazed. It can generate video with the accompanying audio, perfectly lip-synched, and just from a text prompt. VEO 2 is so good, so powerful, so much better than everything else, that it immediately became the new “KING” of AI video tools. However, everything I had done in the last six months, now looked amateur in comparison. I felt this huge pressure to jump on the latest bandwagon so I, too, could make the coolest AI videos. But it’s $250 month, and that’s for a limited number of prompts, so if it doesn’t work, you’re out of credits, and out of luck.
Then I remembered that better stories come from better writing and no amount of AI tools are a replacement for craft and creativity. Apparently the internet didn’t get the memo, because I’ve seen a huge outpouring of projects created with VEO 2 that are repetitive garbage. Perhaps the good stuff takes some time and patience, but I have seen very few examples of great work. Apparently, there are plenty of people with the resources to create short term jokes like all the Studio Ghibli memes or AI action figures from ChatGPT that flooded your social feeds in April. If you were watching the NBA finals last week, you might have seen the AI generated ad for Kalshi, on online betting market. AI Filmmaker PJ Acceturo made the spot in two days and generated 300 or 400 clips in VEO 2 before editing them down to the final result. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident and not a sign of things to come. If you want to read more about the AI Slop Fest, you can check out this article.
Vibe Coding's Ascent
While the current crop of AI video struggles with meaning, AI web design tools have arrived. For years, I’ve told students that AI image generators are great for brainstorming but need professional finishing in Photoshop. Today, with "Vibe Designing" tools, we’re really close to perfect work .
I’ve taught web design for twenty years, and for the first time, I’m questioning the future of the profession. A unique website that once cost a client $5,000 and a month of my time can now be generated in ten minutes from a text prompt. The result looks great, works on every device, and is essentially (almost) free. This is possible because large language models can now recognize and replicate established patterns based on existing code frameworks and Jakob’s Law, which states that users prefer websites that work like ones they already know. The large language models can now see these sites and recreate them with a sense of harmony and balance that was impossible just a few months ago.
So, where does this leave web designers?
For a small business or startup, the need to hire a web designer for a simple site has been virtually eliminated. An intern could have a one-page site completed by noon. Websites are rapidly becoming a commodity, creating opportunities for those willing to compete on price, but collapsing the traditional business model. Designers who build sites piece-by-piece with tools like Webflow or Framer will find it hard to compete with AI-driven tools that achieve results faster and cheaper.
Are Vibe Coding tools perfect? No, but they are already effective for over 90% of simple website use cases. The path forward for designers is to diversify. Branding, storytelling, and UX design still matter. If you can solve a client's bigger communication problems, you can now sweeten the deal by throwing in the website for free. There is little future in having simple web design as your primary service.
A Note for Developers
It's crucial to note this analysis applies to the world of simple, one-page websites using HTML and CSS. Experienced developers correctly point out that Vibe Coding is "not there yet" for complex engineering. When it comes to databases, security, and scalable applications, these tools produce code with significant risks. However, they can still provide a huge time savings for expert developers who can identify and fix these issues. Don’t try to launch a web application by yourself unless you know what you’re doing.
If want to watch a five minute overview on these tools, check out my latest video.
If you’d like to take a deeper dive into Vibe coding and how it’s changing the world of design, here are three articles I found helpful.
Semafor: The ease of vibe coding could upend the economics of scarcity and scale
The Week: The Rise of Vibe Coding
Inc.: How to Start Vibe Coding