r/opensource bans AI projects and non-English speakers
New submission rules have set off a revolt in the community and a rival subreddit.
Curious#05
Curious
Image: The Verge
The short version
- The moderators of r/opensource posted new submission rules on Saturday evening.
- The rules ban projects that use AI, are made by AI, or are intended for AI.
- Projects must also be at least one year old, actively maintained, and have multiple contributors.
- The mods also said non-English speakers should find a different community, because they cannot verify AI-translated text.
Why it matters
The rules could affect any project that uses AI-generated code, and many pointed out that the Linux kernel now contains some. Moderator Wolvereness said there is room for selective enforcement, such as software with AI-based accessibility features like automatic captioning. For developers, the rules also rule out solo projects seeking help.
“If you don’t speak English, you need to find a different community”