UPDATE: it differs slightly from the wording they used in the TOS, and it likely will NOT impact our art or steal it, but I still do not approve of the use of AI in ANY KIND of educational learning children use. Using AI doesn't allow children problem solving on their own, and I know im so happy personally that when I used scratch to code games and stuff as a child, that I didnt have AI. BUT we are still not overreacting AI is a problem. It always will be. Honestly I never expected scratch would undermine us all like this. *THIS IS MY PERSONAL TAKE ON ALL THIS* For me, scratch has been THE ONE website I almost never see AI shown on. DeviantArt, YouTube, tik of the tok, have recently in the past 2 years been FILLED with AI, often labeled as “brain rot content” or just straight up “ART” ?! It has been sold, bought, and almost commercialised as a form of art, of which it IS NOT. Scratch has been seemingly safe from all this. Most of the time it isn’t the platform’s fault people post AI, it is mostly inevitable with the growing of its technology. THIS TIME THOUGH, IT WAS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE. Scratch implemented this THEMSELVES. why they would do this: I assume it’s for commercial gain. I think this due to them recently adding a pay for premium feature on scratch, and merch. They need money, but exploiting us is not the way to do it. But worse than just implemented possible future AI features and encouraging its use, scratch has clearly stated (from what I’ve read) that they are very willing to USE OUR ART for AI training. This is something inevitable on the internet, but a platform actually STATING that they want to do it!? Absolutely disgusting, especially when it’s the work of unconcenting CHILDREN who likely don’t understand the implementation of AI taking their art. They are exploiting minors. I can’t state this enough. People don’t often read TOS, I wish they would but I admit me myself didn’t. Scratch must have assumed we wouldn’t and they could quietly sweep this under the rug. But it’s our art, and artists are NOT ok with it being exploited. GUYS IF AI IS TRAINED ON YOUR ART, IT CAN PERFECTLY RE-CREATE IT. This may sound like an exaggeration, but I can promise you it’s not: it will steal your future career in art if it takes your art style. I’ve seen many people online trying to sell art and FAILING due to them having an ‘AI art style’. This is absolutely NOT the artist’s fault, only the AI in which stole their art for training. This is just horrific. I can’t state it enough. The better AI gets, the more jobs in creative expression they will steal. The more they TRAIN, the better they get. Scratch is helping it along in this terrifying growth. And there’s no opt out. Either allow scratch to steal your art and use it for their own commercialised benefits, potentially breaching your privacy, future careers, and just personal comfort, or leave. This is a horrible breach of all of our privacy, whether you are an artist, writer, or just any kind of creative spirit. Funding AI is destroying our futures, and I’m just hurt scratch didn’t recognise this since their platform is literally sold as being CREATIVE.
(Above not written by me, but by @CatTheLoaf) Over the years I have endured a lot of changes on scratch. It's gotten more toxic, less moderated, and in general the uplifting community I fell in love with nearly seven years ago has been steadily eroding. Mainly, my view on it has been that I have the power to restore at least a small part of this lovely community by being the person I want to see on scratch. If I leave, I can't improve my little corner of the internet. But THIS gave me pause. I cannot believe the ST has decided to go through with such an awful choice. I was planning on releasing stories and comics on scratch for my own enjoyment and the entertainment of anyone who would decide to read them. Until this is corrected I will not be posting any of my art or writing on scratch whatsoever. I can't afford to have my creativity used for AI training, whether that's a likely outcome or not. I, like a few other people, will be putting together a petition email to send in protest to the scratch team. I and anyone who joins me will be boycotting scratch by refusing to buy memberships (or canceling them if you already have one) or any merchandise and by spreading the word to scratchers who are unaware. Please leave your username in the comments with no @ if you'd like to add yourself to the petition, and if you're willing, please contact the scratch team as well. It takes a lot of voices to make change (Petition + boycott idea from two people who inspired me on the original project) PETITION NAMES: - GhostsAtMidnight - jamesonandaverylove - SoccerSquirrel87
