this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2025
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I noticed a post on here that was AI-generated and in my opinion off-topic. I don't see the advantages of having AI-generated images on here myself, and prefer real wildlife pictures.

I noticed a lot of people who seemed to agree that this didn't belong here in the comments of the post. Therefore, I propose banning these in this community. What does everyone else think?

Mod ping: @dragonfly@lemmy.world @Smokeless7048@lemmy.world

EDIT: Please don't bash the OP of the mentioned post.

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[–] dragonfly@lemmy.world 38 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Hi all ,

I've always preferred not to make rules, because I think it can stifle creativity and sharing, BUT, it may be necessary at this point to have one or two rules posted to the sidebar, including something about AI, as well as a general "be nice" sort of thing. I'm open to suggestions, if anyone wants to weigh in.

I don't like AI though I can envision some narrow situations when it could be okay, which is why I've not banned it. Clearly, there are strong opinions about it, and I think a ban or restriction is probably appropriate at this point. At the very least, it should be clearly labeled as AI.

However, I think it's super important to note that not everyone can readily identify what is and is not AI, so if someone does post AI, we should offer up some grace and kindness to that person, who may simply be sharing a picture that they genuinely thought would be appreciated.

I welcome thoughtful discussion and suggestions, and I'll update the sidebar with a couple rules after I've had time to read what you've had so say.

[–] Muaddib@sopuli.xyz 13 points 3 months ago

While AI has plenty of good uses, genAI has far fewer. We can prevent any problems with banning legitimate use of AI by only banning genAI. Expert systems and fuzzy logic are fine.

[–] Lumisal@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

I'm not as against AI as others but I think it makes sense to not have it here

[–] plum@lemmy.zip 74 points 3 months ago

I come here for superb owls, not fake ones.

[–] humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.works 67 points 3 months ago

Considering the growth of AI infrastructure is likely destroying many wildlife habitats I say with confidence fuck AI.

[–] turdas@suppo.fi 47 points 3 months ago (2 children)

The user who posted that posts a lot of stuff that's not AI, so I expect they just saw that picture somewhere and reposted it not realizing it's AI. It can be difficult to tell sometimes and will only get more difficult as time goes on.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 35 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I know I've shared this same image myself here before I learned what to look for.

The rude responses are much more bothersome to me. OP wasn't some new account or known Ai spam account. Real contributors here deserve respect and the benefit of the doubt, IMO.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thanks anon. I like you nearly as much as superb owls 🦉

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Appreciate that! I've got your back. Anyone that contributes here by post, comment, or just continued positive support should be treated as one of the owl fam.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago

I got your back too mate 100% #OwlFamily

[–] RipLemmDotEE@lemmy.today 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yes, but that poster has been kinda flooding several communities with posts that are cutesy art posts that feel like filler, and border on offtopic.

I admire the dedication to posting content, but I think it might be a bit too much and at the cost of quality.

[–] Sergio@piefed.social 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Who, @ladybutterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone? They are a blessing upon Lemmy and personally their posts to the "uplifting" communities have improved my day on several occasions. Sure, some of their posts are better than others but that's true of anyone.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago

Thanks Sergio I appreciate it ❤️

[–] zipsglacier@lemmy.world 39 points 3 months ago

Yes, I would like a policy to remove ai generated owls.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 34 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Agreed. But be careful.

Emphasize the rule too much, and you'll run into "is it AI generated?" loops that many art posts spiral into. Especially when innocently reposted from elsewhere.


The rule should be 'please no AI generated content,' emphasis on the 'please.' Remove obvious offenders; don't aggressively hunt for them. Focus should be enjoying real owls, and not infinite debate on the origins of every owl in the comments.

[–] qaz@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Yes, that seems like a good way to phrase it

[–] Nima@leminal.space 3 points 3 months ago

I absolutely agree with this. exactly. this is a nice, chill place to learn about these lovely birds and share love of them.

[–] Agrivar@lemmy.world 30 points 3 months ago

PLEASE ban AI slop from this community!

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 20 points 3 months ago

No AI please.

[–] Muaddib@sopuli.xyz 17 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)
[–] FridaySteve@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

If I want AI images I can go get them myself, I don't need a curated space for that.

[–] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 3 months ago

I think the difference is that they should be different spaces.

[–] Nima@leminal.space 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I agree about the AI, but some of the tone of those comments in that thread is a bit concerning.

the person who posted might not have known it was AI but a few comments seem to be directing anger at the poster when it may have been a mistake.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It was a genuine error. I'm probably old enough to be some of their mothers and I'm not good at spotting it

[–] Nima@leminal.space 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

thank you for replying in this thread. I have seen you post in a lot of good communities and uplifting ones as well so I knew it was likely unintentional when I saw the post.

I am sorry there's been some rude people responding in the other thread and in this one =(

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's fine, I know how people are sometimes. I really appreciate you challenging it. ❤️

[–] Electric_Druid@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago
[–] Dogiedog64@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

AI slop has no place here. Ban the fuckers and ban the slop.

[–] Nima@leminal.space 8 points 3 months ago

I agree that ai should not be in this community, but neither should phrases like "ban the fuckers" be commonplace here.

especially considering the post was made in error and the poster didn't know it was AI generated.

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 5 points 3 months ago

I haven't noticed any owl posts that I realized were AI, but I don't really mind if they are, as long as they aren't presented as real photos.

[–] Mechanize@feddit.it 4 points 3 months ago

I would personally prefer to not have AI Generated photo realistic content that can easily be mistaken for real photo in this community.

At the same time its very nature makes it really hard to moderate and control, and can easily spiral into witch hunts or limiting the content from only an handful of trusted sources, which would kill the already limited contributions outside of the ones from the wonderful anon.

The only solution I can think of is adding a vague rule, as someone already posted, asking to avoid it and be lenient on the casual trasgressors, asking, educating and warning first. Not straight out banning or demeaning.

At the same time I feel there should be low tolerance towards the amount of vulgar, harsh and honestly disheartening comments that tend to flood discussions even vaguely related to AI on lemmy. There's a really vocal group of people that floods any thread that could potentially be AI or about AI.

I get the reaction, but I think it has no place here: this has always been a wholesome, kind, community.

About artsy AI (drawings, comics, fake paintings, digital pieces etc) I don't really have a strong opinion, mostly because I don't follow this community for the art but mostly for the photos of real owls: I just think it should at least be properly tagged.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

How many AI generated posts have been so far? If everyone starts going bat shit crazy over the stuff very soon we will have a witch hunt, not here but all over the place.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

There's probably been about 6, and at least 3 have been this exact comic, and the rest were along the lines of "this is AI but I still like the style, what do you think?" in the last 2.5 years.

[–] qaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

There's only been 1 on here AFAIK

[–] rayquetzalcoatl@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Ban the AI spam

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 2 points 3 months ago

Even on a community about a singe rare owl species like Serendib Scops Owl, I wouldn't tolerate padding the content with AI

[–] higgsboson@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I have nothing against well-done generative AI; in fact, I quite enjoy some in the right context. I am proficient and often enjoy genAI content in other contexts.

Unfortunately, people tend to post genAI images that are both low-effort and low-quality (annnd lacking any meaningful artistic process.) Unless rigorously moderated, it takes over. I am not here for that. I strongly prefer not to see AI flood this community and I am likely to leave if I see it more than occasionally.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

No gen ai has meaningful artistic content, period

Prompt writers can die mad about it, youre not artists, you're clients.

[–] mrfriki@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Any AI stuff is a hard no for me, in this community or anywhere else. It contributes nothing on the short term and it can destroy the community in the long term. It should be banned.

[–] tomiant@piefed.social 1 points 3 months ago

Someone actually did that?

Fuck that.