Let's start by making something clear: me posting this on a PUBLIC website where anyone can read my posts, is not talking behind someone's back. This is called the internet, where if something is amiss, we hold someone accountable for it. In this case, it was painfully obvious to me, who has been a very passionate activist against AI, that AI was being used in the production of Sims genetics created by @sims3melancholic (there, I will tag you this time so you don't have to feel left out). This is utterly disappointing to me because I have been using their content since they started posting their CC in the TS3 days. This creator has 130,750 members on their Patreon, where they charge money for early access (which I'm sure most of you remember the public outcry of paywalls to begin with), and probably even more followers on Tumblr. Prior to being confronted today, no where did this creator state that they're using AI in their CC workflow.
Now, let me paint you a picture on why this lack of disclosure is problematic:
I download a skin from this creator to use in my own Sims artwork. I am vehemently against AI. Since I am now using a skin that uses AI, that means that I am now functionally using AI in my own artwork. That goes against my morals as an artist and fellow CC creator, and I have been lied to by omission in regard to the ethical artistic authenticity of the content that I am downloading and possibly even paying to access early because the creator is not disclosing that AI is being used in the creation of their work.
It does NOT matter if you are just using AI for skin references/piecing/blending the skins together and not just "hitting a button." You are STILL USING AI, and that is the problem! Your consumers are unknowingly downloading AI-enhanced work. You cry about people devaluing your work in the comments, but the only person devaluing your work is you, the creator, who is cheapening your own wonderful talent to make beautiful sims genetics by using AI in your workflow.
And honestly, I wasn't going to even continue replying to this situation until you went comment to comment trying to paint me in a bad light for accusing you "behind your back" (aka a public Tumblr post lol) for something you literally just admitted to doing. Which I do appreciate you being honest about, although your deflective, blame-shifting tone in your confession is not an appropriate way to go about this. All you need to do is start disclosing you use AI on your work and go about your day, and if people still want to support that then they will. But I know why you decide not to disclose it, and it's because you KNOW it's a problem and that you will lose out on business for using it. Which kind of hammers the nail in about my stance here.
If you really don't understand the ethical issues behind AI despite it being circulated everywhere for months now, between AI models stealing art from artists to train them and the environmental issues that are affecting low-income areas, especially those of minorities, and contributing to global water bankruptcy, then you need to start reading up and realizing what you are actively contributing to by shamelessly, ignorantly using AI. And that also goes to EVERYONE who continues to use AI to enhance their sim edits/pictures. I am so done with this.
But yesss let's keep contributing to digital colonialism and climate crises so our little virtual pixel children can look cute ✨
Research Guides: Generative AI: Ethics and Costs
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