What do we mean by AI-Free?

As computer users, machine learning is all around us and in many ways unavoidable. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself. There are ML algorithms which accomplish clear, useful tasks with few downsides.

Unfortunately, in recent years we've seen an explosion of a particular class of ML algorithms proliferate across the entire Internet. These algorithms have been dubbed Generative AI. GenAI promises to provide thoughtful, novel creative output…and instead it extrudes synthetic data which only plausibly resembles true human artifacts based on unethically-obtained massive training datasets. And the providers of these systems are themselves terribly unconcerned with the horrendous side-effects of the "stochastic parrot" machines they've unleashed which are destructive to the environment, extractive to web content, and dangerous to human minds.

Thus the definition of AI-Free in the context of providing tools, services, and creative artifacts is a relatively straightforward one:

• No generative AI algorithm has been used in the production of the end result of this effort.

What this means in practical terms:

• If you are a software developer, the code you commit to a codebase is free of AI-generated code.
• If you are a writer, the essay, poem, book, technical document, etc. you publish is free of AI-generated words.
• If you are a photographer, the photograph you present is free of AI-generated pixel data.
• If you are a musician, the recording you release is free of AI-generated audio.
• If you are an advertiser, the ad you show is free of AI-generated video.
• If you are a visual artist, the graphics you display are free of AI-generated lines, colors, shapes, and textures.
• And so on and so forth.

Note that this does not place a restriction on what you choose to do in your own personal workflow. We're not the police! 😄 If you feel it necessary to use a generative AI-based tool as part of a pre-production "research phase" of your work, that's your decision to make as you weigh the ethical pros & cons. All we are promising is that the output which gets presented to the public is devoid of any and all aspects of those data sources.

Consumers have a right to know if generative AI has been used in the production of the works they engage with. And the AI-Free labeling helps them know precisely that the answer is a decided no.

If you know of tools, services, and creative artifacts which are advertised as being AI-Free, please share them with the community! Let's build this movement together. ☮️