I'm sure most of you have already seen the posts about the new AI art program that Scratch is introducing. If not, please read through this: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1269751874 This is my take on the situation. I apologize to all who have seen a million projects talking about the same thing, but it is very important to bring to light. I am so genuinely disappointed in Scratch. This website used to be a place I found comfort in; a place where I could properly express myself and share art with my peers. In fact, it is THE only place where I post content of my desire. I'm sure many of you also share a similar experience, as this is a kid's coding website. But if Scratch is just going to go around and steal art that mostly KIDS OR MINORS have made to train AI, then I don't want any part of it. That is genuinely wrong on so many levels. Another thing that's getting overshadowed, but is equally wrong is the implementation of the AI age verification. Why would any minor willingly take a picture of themselves to be used by AI for who knows what?? Where will that picture go?? It's creepy. I'm not leaving. Leaving will not help the situation. What I am doing instead is protesting; maybe not even posting until Scratch removes this condition. I urge all of my fellow artists to do the same; I'm worried that this AI model is going to tear the art community apart. But I don't want that. I've met so many amazing people through this website, and I want to continue to do so!! But I can't if Scratch completely destroys its own community from the inside out. Together, we can fight this. Remix this, post your own projects, comment, love-- we need these types of projects to gain mass attention so Scratch sees how genuinely hurtful this is to us. I'm hoping that things will take a turn for the better; but they won't if we just sit back and let this happen. Together, we can make Scratch a safe place for artists again.
