Comment by ThrowawayR2
21 hours ago
While I agree that lowlife opportunists using generative AI to front-run game creators is scummy, having the AI playing cop is not the right thing to do. There are any number of posts on HN describing misfires of these rules blocking legitimate user requests.
The AI bros want to liken AI to a compiler (*cough*BS*cough*); well, I've never had a compiler try to decline to compile code on moral grounds.
I oversee and contribute to compilers / toolchains, and I have sometimes had worries about what 'my' compiler could contribute to. I am of course not responsible, but it's not a nice feeling to know a path towards some unpleasant end had steps that involved you.
It reminds me of that version of Linux that was used for automated gun targeting and firing, perhaps in the early 2000s. Authors gave away their code as open source, and then that open source was used for what many felt was an evil purpose. A path to something many disliked or opposed now included them and their actions, despite their good intentions.
Sure, this rule is for a good cause (protecting small games developers) but it is a rule about protecting commercial interests of a group. One can imagine how it might be extended to protect larger, less worthy commercial interests. Imagine a compiler that declined to compile Linux or *BSD because they replicate the functionality of Solaris / HP-UX / AIX / Windows.
It would if the people who owned the compiler had enough market power. Thank gnu for keeping us out of that world.