Just over a week ago, the marketer Tom Orbach absolutely thrilled Twitter when it unveiled its LinkedIn Viral Post Generator, a website that uses AI to mimic LinkedIn viral posts, cringe and all. The internet completely ate it up, so much so that a company decided to pay real money own the thing.
According to Orbach, he created the Viral message generator using an AI to analyze more than 100,000 posts that have gone viral on LinkedIn. On August 15, he launched the tool on Twitter and said the AI can now write hateful messages itself and customize them for anyone. All users had to do was tell the AI what they did today, include an inspirational tip, and choose the level to cringe (from low to high on a sliding scale) .
The results were hilarious works of art, some of which I could honestly imagine being on LinkedIn, which is full of useless advice masquerading as information that will change your life and overcome all your obstacles. (Of course, sometimes we need inspiration for an uplifting tone more than background information. Alright.) Of course, some of the posts also seem inspired by pornbecause it’s the Internet.
AI highlights Uber driver running over old man, describes it as ‘state of mind’
WTF.
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AI’s take on CEOs presenting layoffs as the “brave and right thing to do”
I already hate this CEO.
AI creates a post for all people who send countless emails
Omg, I know these people. Leave my inbox alone!
Apparently the AI really wants people to write marketing copy, okay?
I don’t know how brushing your teeth makes more money, but OK.
The AI really likes to-do lists
I hate to-do lists because they always get longer.
Live your #Dreams in #Grinding: Actual LinkedIn Marketing Agency acquires Joke message generator
After nearly two weeks of widespread laughter, on Thursday Orbach announced that its Viral Post Generator had been acquired by taplio, a Wyoming-based ad agency specializing in LinkedIn content. While some of us here at Gizmodo originally had our doubts that the tool was purchased for real money, looks like it’s legit. On Thursday, Taplio’s name and call-to-action button were on the viral message generator.
“1 week from #launch to #acquisition – not bad at all,” Orbach wrote on LinkedIn. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for using Viral Post Generator ❤️ It will now be managed by Taplio. I will use this money to finance my next projects. (Oh, you’ll love them).
Orbach did not disclose how much he was paid for his tool. Gizmodo reached out to Orbach and Taplio on Thursday for comment, but did not receive a response as of press time.
While I personally love the Viral Post Generator, the fact that he taught what kinds of things go viral on LinkedIn and how to write them reminds me that content on the social media network is just as inauthentic as on Instagram, where retouched and fake aspirational images rule. On LinkedIn, long speeches, inspiring advice and stories of overcoming hardship get the clicks. It’s alright, bperfectly adapted publications, whether on LinkedIn, Instagram or another social networkcan get tiring after a while.
