I am pretty sure I know the answer, but I am wondering what people think about this. Say you come across a new fediverse platform. It has a lot of innovative features, and seems to be well thought out overall. A lot of people have been excited by the features and have been joining to check these new features out.

The one rub, the project admits that they used AI agents in the foundational stages of the project to accelerate development progress, then once the foundation was built, they analyzed, bug fixed, and documented the code, and brought in human contributors to assist with developing the project going forward. They do still allow AI code, but only certain types and using certain quality protocols to ensure code consistency, and are clear and up front about this, and unapologetic, as it was the only way they could make this project happen in the time and manner it did.

I know AI is somewhat more accepted in the coding world these days, depending on who you talk to, but I know some people have strong stances in it. How would you feel about a project like this? Under what circumstances would you be ok with joining a platform that has used AI in its code?

  • ozoned@piefed.socialEnglish
    24·
    4 months ago

    Yes.

    I think AI has a place. But it’s at best a junior software engineer. You have to look over the code, put it rough a full review process and treat it no different than a person.

    As long as the source is open.

    As long as the platform supports the common good.

    AI code is stolen from open source, so as long as you’re using it in the original intention of the code that was stolen, using Big Tech’s money to create something free and open, I’m OK with it.

    But also leverage AI fire accessibility. Language translations, alt text, etc.

    • rjwilliamson@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      6·
      4 months ago

      AI code is stolen from open source, so as long as you’re using it in the original intention of the code that was stolen, using Big Tech’s money to create something free and open, I’m OK with it.

      This is exactly how I have been viewing it, using big tech’s tools against them. I know that kind of sounds like cope, but if the goal is to replace their platforms with open source decentralized alternatives, then the least we can do is be on the same playing field as far as development tools go.

      The thing that is a bit unclear though, with regard to AI projects based on open source code, is what license that would fall under. I suppose it’s not much different than any other open source project that uses other open source code, but the difference is that with human coders at least you can trust that they know where the code came from, whereas with AI, you can’t, and have to verify every claim they make.