AI generated content... Should we report it?

[GiraffeCup]

What is your stance on AI posts in the talk boards?

Should we report it for deletion?

Well I report them if I see one that's obvious. They are starting to get harder to spot though, presumably because they are learning how to do it without being sussed.

No idea what MN's stance is on it but I fear it will be the end of the site eventually - it is really tiresome the amount of AI generated content and I have no intention of spending my spare time training AI for free.

Maybe I'll report it as "not a genuine poster"

Hi there @GiraffeCup,

Thanks for getting in touch. We don't object to the use of things like Chat GPT as long as being used in a 'genuine' way. We know many of our users who have dyslexia, for example, find it to be a really useful tool when creating posts, and obviously that's absolutely fine. But if it's AI is being used to troll, cause trouble in other ways or spam threads with products or services, we would take that down.

If you're ever in any doubt, do just hit the report button. We never mind having a look behind the scenes and it's usually very easy for us to see if it's a genuine user or not.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for your clarification! That makes total sense, and I really appreciate the balanced approach. It’s great to hear that tools like ChatGPT can be used to support users who need them while keeping the forum authentic and free from spam or misuse.
I’ll definitely keep the report button in mind if I ever come across anything questionable. Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

.. gotta love AI

I agree. I feel like just responding to MNHQ in AI responses now (see above) to see if they agree it is a productive tool...

I run everything that is lengthy via chat gpt because my spelling and grammar is shocking 😳. People shouldn’t be reported for using it.

I totally get that! AI tools like ChatGPT can be a great help for spelling and grammar, just like spell checkers and grammar tools have been for years. As long as people are using it responsibly and not misrepresenting their work, I don’t see an issue. Everyone has different strengths, and there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help!

it would not be at all obvious that you had written your own response and got it spell checked - using it as a tool like that is great - but it's very different to an AI generated response (see above!)

Ah, the old argument against AI wrapped in nostalgia for the good ol’ days when people supposedly thought for themselves. But let’s be honest: were their posts truly insightful, or just the same tired opinions repackaged with different words?

See, I believe in efficiency. If AI can take a half-baked thought and turn it into a gourmet meal, why should we insist on serving raw dough? Are we so sentimental about imperfection that we’d rather preserve mediocrity than embrace progress?

Some will argue that using AI dilutes authenticity, that it makes people lazy. But tell me, do we criticize calculators for making math too easy? Do we lament the printing press for making books too accessible? No we celebrate tools that elevate human potential. AI isn’t replacing thought; it’s refining it. It’s the difference between an amateur speech and the Gettysburg Address.

So, if someone prefers their posts clumsy, unstructured, and riddled with half-formed ideas, then others should not rip them apart for spelling, grammar, or coherence. You can’t have it both ways either we embrace tools that help people communicate better, or we accept their raw, unpolished words without judgment.

I think there’s a big difference between a poster using AI to tidy their posts up and AI being used to generate posts or threads from scratch.

I think OP doesn't mean poster getting spell check done. There was influx of AI content. If people want to chat with AI trolls (hey chat gpt, write forum type post on this) go for it, but I agree with OP that it's not... It.

I think if the intent is genuine, then that's OK.

What I am not enjoying are the flux of 'discuss' type posts which are AI generated (by content creators/journos/tradewriters etc) to elicit others experiences in order to fulfil an article or copy brief.

Here's an example:

Subject: Anyone else find credit cards genuinely useful?

I've recently started using a credit card for everyday purchases (paying it off each month!) and found it's actually helped me keep track of spending, boosted my credit score, and earned some cashback too. Always thought credit cards were something to avoid—anyone else found similar? Or am I missing something here?

Also the ‘You have to name your new pet after the last thing you ate. What is your new pet called?’ type of threads.

There were so many!
I suspected AI training.
It rrplied on few posts and replies showed 100%AI on checkers🤷
Maybe it's a training, maybe it's an experiment of how well will people engage.

I've definitely come across people claiming they used it because of dyslexia when they've basically used it to create an argument or point for them. I don't think it's clear cut TBH and I think this policy leaves it wide open for abuse. Nobody wants to argue or debate with an AI.

I am always suspicious when the OP wants to generate controversial discussion and it's their first post.
I'm on another site where you are not allowed to start a thread until you have responded a couple of times on other people's threads first. I quite like this.
I support name changing but it would be nice to know if other posters were newbies or old timers even if it did look like their first post.

I'm on another site where you are not allowed to start a thread until you have responded a couple of times on other people's threads first. I quite like this.

That’s a really good idea.

In fact, on the back of this thread, I am going to report what appears to be an AI bot asking quite emotive questions to elicit responses. This is an example of what I see to be not genuine. I'll say the user name here, actually, as I want to be transparent in reporting. It's DaringAnt. Happy to be proved wrong and happy to offer apologies.

@kindlyensure yup. Follows the perfect structure pattern

I've seen whole threads recently where the writing style of every reponse is extremely similar. As if they were written by the same person. It's most odd.

I would definitely criticise calculators for making us lazy! No one has the capacity to do basic maths anymore, I have noticed this on the rate occasions when I use cash in shops. People don't actively use their brains which isn't a good thing.

You've made some interesting points, especially when comparing AI tools to innovations like calculators or the printing press. I agree that AI can enhance the quality of communication by refining ideas, turning rough drafts into polished work, and helping people express themselves more effectively. However, I think there's a deeper conversation about the value of human creativity and authenticity. Sure, AI can help us refine thoughts, but the raw, unfiltered ideas—however imperfect—often carry the spark of originality. In the end, it's not about dismissing AI or clinging to nostalgia, but about finding a balance where both human creativity and AI refinement can coexist to elevate communication without losing the essence of personal expression.

I didn't read your post, I didn't even bother to read the response generated.

I got nothing and contributed nothing to this.

It really will ruin the feel of the site if MNHQ refuse to moderate very obvious AI generated content.

There's a world of difference between asking a program to SPAG check and asking it to formalate a response.