Why I deleted ChatGPT & CharacterAI (AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO!!)
I deleted ChatGPT & CharacterAI today. I'm spreading the word to say that it is bad for the environment, creators, and your mental health.
"How is AI bad for the environment?" AI is bad for the environment because they are using up all the fresh, drinking water to cool down the AI data centers. They are telling people to take shorter showers so that they have more water to cool the data centers down, because they get really hot. Apparently the company thinks that AI, a fake robot that doesn't even exist, needs more water than people, who are actual, living, breathing beings who need water in order to survive.
"How is AI bad for creators?" In an artist's case, what AI does is it takes ideas from other art styles, basically coping it and downloading it into its system. Artists take many long hours to create their work, only for it to be fed by an AI generating machine, creating "art" in a matter of seconds. AI "art" = stolen art. In a writer's case, asking AI to make you a story, edit your story, etc., devolves your writing skills and makes you a bad writer. AI is uncreative, thus making the AI "writer" uncreative. Apps such as CharacterAI steal from fanfic writers, similar to artists. As an artist and fanfic writer myself, I refuse to let AI into my work process.
"How is AI bad for my mental health?" AI destroys your mental health because you get addicted to it. I cannot stress this enough. It ruins the way you talk to people in real life. You begin to talk like AI, ruining your vocabulary and interactions. In CharacterAI, you have the ability to change what the AI says to get a better answer, WHICH IS NOT HOW IRL INTERACTIONS WORK!!! You can't change what other people say. AI could also ruin the way you think, making you unable to figure out which is AI and which isn't.
"What are some alternatives I can use instead of AI?"
Write fanfiction. Instead of making a scenario with an AI, actually write the scenario. Whether it be your OCs, or characters from your latest hyperfixation. Whether it be on the computer, or on paper. If you're doing it on the computer, I suggest using websites like Ao3. !! IT'S OKAY TO BE A BAD WRITER !! Everyone's a bad writer at first. The thing about writing is the more you write, the better you get at it. If you post it online, people can give you tips on how to be a better writer in the comments.
Roleplay. Instead of roleplaying with an AI, you can find real people to roleplay with. In real life, you can roleplay with your friends if they have similar interests, or you can find conventions about your interests near you to roleplay with people. Online, you can find people that are in your fandom that you can roleplay with. Websites/Apps such as TikTok, CharacterHub, and Tumblr are some pretty good ones.
Make Artwork. Instead of asking AI to make art for you, pick up a pencil and make it yourself. Since you're the one making the art and not asking a robot to, you aren't stealing from another artist to make it. It's better to get inspired by other people's art styles, I personally was inspired by Steven Universe's artstyle. !! GETTING INSPIRED ≠ STEALING !! Whether you make art on paper or digital. If you try digital art, I suggest using free art apps and websites such as Ibs Paint & Kleki Paint Tool (what I use). Similar to writing, !! IT'S OKAY TO BE A BAD ARTIST !! Art takes time, practice, and work. The more you draw, the better you get.
Play games for your OCs. Instead of asking an AI to make up a design for your OC, make up lore, etc., you can find games online for all those things. Games such as Picrew, Gacha Life, & Pony Town (which is also another good one for roleplaying) are good for making designs for your characters. For lore, you can find good websites like CharacterHub to create interesting back stories for your OCs. You could maybe even base their lore off of some type of theme, your lore, someone else's, etc..
Thank you for reading! Please spread the word and share this with other people.
-Written with love & support, Star Creature 💫👽
