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There is now a permanent and complete ban on the use of ChatGPT and AI generated content on Ask Ubuntu.

This permanent ban involves:

1. Deletion of all ChatGPT or other AI content, whether acknowledged as such or not
2. Moderator email for initial occurrence, if minor in scope
3. Seven day Suspension for subsequent occurrence, or initial occurrence if larger in scope, and then the usual escalation of penalties for further infractions

The Moderation team has decided by majority vote and decision, after review of opinions and the volume of posts from ChatGPT which have been flagged as problematic or violations of the temporary ban, that this ban on ChatGPT and AI generated content is now a permanent ban, effective February 2, 2022. This can be revisited in the future, however it is not going to change for the foreseeable future.

Note that it is the moderator team's opinion that the use of Grammarly and spell checking tools to correct grammar errors and spelling errors are not AI generated content - using those to improve your own written posts' grammar or to correct spelling errors are not forbidden, we are specifically barring the use of ChatGPT and other AIs as the sole source of generating answer content.

Community discussion had originally been taking place on AU Meta concerning our position on AI generated content:

Ban ChatGPT and AI-generated answers on Ask Ubuntu?

While this discussion was proceeding there had been a recent, substantial, and massive upsurge in the numbers of ChatGPT generated answers and spam messages posted on Ask Ubuntu. Because of this, and due to the various reasons of plagiarist behavior of AI generated posts not stating their sources (as they aren't original answers) and due to the volume of incorrect, nonworking, and unvetted content in answers, the Moderation Team voted separately and came to the decision to extend this temporary ban into a permanent one.

From February 2, 2023 there is a permanent and complete ban on the use of ChatGPT and AI generated content on Ask Ubuntu.

This permanent ban involves:

1. Deletion of all ChatGPT or other AI content, whether acknowledged as such or not
2. Moderator email for initial occurrence, if minor in scope
3. Seven day Suspension for subsequent occurrence, or initial occurrence if larger in scope, and then the usual escalation of penalties for further infractions

The Moderation team has decided by majority vote and decision, after review of opinions and the volume of posts from ChatGPT which have been flagged as problematic or violations of the previous temporary ban, that this ban on ChatGPT and AI generated content is now a permanent ban, effective February 2, 2023. This can be revisited in the future, however it is not going to change for the foreseeable future.

Extra Notes:

• Community Consultation: On December 19th 2022 Community discussion commenced on AU Meta concerning our position on AI generated content. This discussion attracted considerable Community interest and involvement.
• Temporary Ban: On January 5th 2023 while Community discussion was taking place there was a considerable upsurge in the number of of ChatGPT generated answers and spam messages posted on Ask Ubuntu. To get control of this upsurge of incorrect, nonworking, and unvetted content in answers a temporary ban on AI generated answers was instituted. This ban continued until February 2, 2023 when a permanent ban was instituted.
• Grammar and Spell Checking Tools: Note that it is the moderator team's opinion that the use of Grammarly and spell checking tools to correct grammar errors and spelling errors are not AI generated content - using those to improve your own written posts' grammar or to correct spelling errors are not forbidden, we are specifically barring the use of ChatGPT and other AIs as the sole source of generating answer content.