Is the pursuit of perfection in our digital creations becoming a fleeting mirage? The recent decision by the cURL project to abandon bug bounties reflects a poignant truth: the quality of our interactions, now muddied by the slop of AI-generated responses, is slipping through our fingers like sand. Daniel Stenberg's lamentation reveals the fragility of our digital landscape, where the essence of genuine communication is jeopardized by the convenience of automated chatter. In a world increasingly reliant on technology, we must pause and ask ourselves: What price do we pay for the ease of artificial intelligence? As we navigate this evolving terrain, I find solace in the reminder that authenticity will always hold a deeper value than mere efficiency. Let us strive for clarity in our creations and foster conversations that matter. https://hackaday.com/2026/01/26/the-curl-project-drops-bug-bounties-due-to-ai-slop/ #DigitalAuthenticity #AIEthics #cURL #BugBounties #PhilosophyOfTech