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highplainsdem

(58,278 posts) Mon Sep 1, 2025, 01:03 PM Sep 1

John Scalzi: Using AI to generate pictures is like kicking artists in the teeth & then laughing at them while they bleed

In case you don't know who John Scalzi is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scalzi

Because I know actual human artists whose work was appropriated without consent to train these "AI" models (as of course mine was, repeatedly, for LLMs), and using an "AI" to generate pictures is like kicking them in the teeth and then laughing at them whilst they bleed
— John Scalzi (@scalzi.com) 2025-09-01T16:44:33.402Z

6 replies

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John Scalzi: Using AI to generate pictures is like kicking artists in the teeth & then laughing at them while they bleed (Original Post) highplainsdem Sep 1 OP

Enjoyed his "Old Man's War" series FBaggins Sep 1 #1

He's a good writer, of both fiction and nonfiction. Also a talented amateur musician who highplainsdem Sep 1 #3

Starter Villain MurrayDelph Sep 1 #4

I enjoy most of what I've heard Wheaton narrate FBaggins Sep 1 #5

The same with making AI music which is being done by people who should know better plus AI is driving up ImNotGod Sep 1 #2

Right. This applies to all generative AI trained on stolen intellectual property. highplainsdem Sep 1 #6

FBaggins

(28,437 posts)

1. Enjoyed his "Old Man's War" series

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 01:10 PM

Sep 1

I think there's a new one coming out this month (first one in a decade).

"Starter Villian" was suprisingly entertaining

highplainsdem

(58,278 posts)

3. He's a good writer, of both fiction and nonfiction. Also a talented amateur musician who

Reply to FBaggins (Reply #1)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 03:01 PM

Sep 1

sometimes posts his music.

Very much worth following on Bluesky.

MurrayDelph

(5,629 posts)

4. Starter Villain

Reply to FBaggins (Reply #1)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 03:21 PM

Sep 1

was the first thing of his I "read" (actually listened to Wil Wheaton read it).

I liked the humorous vein. Are all his books that much fun?

FBaggins

(28,437 posts)

5. I enjoy most of what I've heard Wheaton narrate

Reply to MurrayDelph (Reply #4)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 03:36 PM

Sep 1

Quite an interesting career path.

Most of Scalzi's work is more traditional sci-fi (which I enjoy). I haven't read "Redshirts" yet because the blurb seemed so unlike that genre... but Starter Villian makes me think that I might enjoy it anyway (and it did win some awards). "Constituent Service" is a short one with some similar humor... and the description of "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" (moon actually turns to cheese) implies some humor as well.

ImNotGod

(1,121 posts)

2. The same with making AI music which is being done by people who should know better plus AI is driving up

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 01:22 PM

Sep 1

electric bills and adding to climate destruction.

highplainsdem

(58,278 posts)

6. Right. This applies to all generative AI trained on stolen intellectual property.

Reply to ImNotGod (Reply #2)

Mon Sep 1, 2025, 04:30 PM

Sep 1

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