Generative AI and IFComp

[vivdunstan]

The IF community is in an existential crisis over the use of generative AI in interactive fiction games, and particularly its use in creative competitions such as IFComp. Here's a good writeup from one of multiple people who've been deterred from participating in IFComp this year, even as a player and judge. https://azhdarchid.com/slop-comes-for-everything-you-love/

I'm opposed to the use of generative AI in creative competitions in general. Partly on philosophical and fairness grounds, but also ethical and environmental reasons. I'm judging IFComp yet again this year - I've been doing this since it started in 1995 - and this year's genAI content is depressing.

Comments

[andrewducker]

I'm sorry. It sucks so much.

[vivdunstan]

Thanks. It's a really tough situation the community is going through, even if some key members are in denial of how much of a crisis it is. I think there will have to be a different approach for next year. Otherwise I'm not entering a game as planned. Others are already stepping away.

[a_cubed]

In all of my modules this year I've been mentioning the stochastic parrots as an issue (not an opportunity) in the introduction lecture. In most of them I've also (these being taught in business schools) been mentioning the financial bubble underpinning these systems and the likelihood that we're going to see a crash akin to the Dot Com and Sub-Prime crashes, but potentially worse than both put together. The downside is that this could have devastating effects on the real economies (at a time when right wing politics is already on the rise supported by nazi social media). The only upside is that when (not if, I think, but when) the crash comes, it will likely take out much of the free/cheap slop generation availability and mean it will be less likely abused in situations like this.

It's also a possibly severe problem in education, as I've reported myself last semester.