TECHNOLOGY
Reddit's AI Battle: Mods Need Backup
Tue Feb 18 2025
Reddit is a big place with lots of different communities. Some of these communities are trying to keep AI-generated stuff out. This is a tough job for the moderators, or "mods, " who volunteer their time to keep things in check. They're up against a growing trend of AI-generated content, and it's not an easy fight.
Most mods who are against AI-generated content say it's a big time-suck. They have to check every post and decide if it's made by a human or an AI. This is a tough job, and it's only going to get harder as AI gets more popular.
Reddit doesn't say how much AI-generated content is on the site. It's hard to know for sure, but it's clear that some subreddits are more strict than others. Some subreddits ban all AI-generated posts, while others let them slide.
Most mods think AI-generated content will become more common in the future. This means they'll need more help to keep up. Reddit the company has started licensing posts to train AI, which could make things more complicated.
Reddit has a lot of users, and most of them are still human. But AI is getting better at making content that looks real. This makes it hard for mods to tell the difference.
Some mods hope Reddit will make a tool to help them spot AI-generated content. Right now, they're on their own. They have to rely on their own judgment and the help of other users.
AI-generated content is a new challenge for Reddit. It's not a huge problem yet, but it could become one if mods don't get the help they need. Reddit needs to step up and support its mods, or the site could become a mess.
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questions
What would happen if an AI-generated post won a subreddit's 'Post of the Day' contest?
If AI-generated content were to take over Reddit, what would be the funniest meme format it would create?
What long-term strategies could Reddit implement to balance the benefits and drawbacks of generative AI content on its platform?