David August ❌👑3d ago

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

edit: messed up and replaced image with a fixed image. I stumbled, foolishly, into using an AI filter I thought, foolishly, was a traditional style image filter.

#AI #labor #profit #economics #UnionStrong

Show threadBrian Campbell3d ago

@davidaugust Uh, is that an AI image used to illustrate the quote?

edit: image has been fixed now, thanks!

Show threadProf. Sam Lawler3d ago
@unlambda @davidaugust I was going to say the same thing. What is up with those uh.... scissors?
Show threadBrian Campbell3d ago
@sundogplanets @davidaugust Yeah, it's clearly slop. Kind of a funny choice to illustrate a quote about "human dignity and the common good."
Show threadAI6YR Ben3d ago
@unlambda @sundogplanets @davidaugust Ouch
Show threadDavid August ❌👑3d ago

@ai6yr @unlambda @sundogplanets

Edit: turns out it was AI, I messed up. Fooled and foolish. Sorry about that.

it is not slop! You make something of yourself when you assume.

I can see why you may have thought it was, but it is a stock photo put through a filter. I would not use AI for a post like this for reasons obvious.

https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116648640047858950

Show threadProf. Sam Lawler3d ago

@davidaugust @ai6yr @unlambda That is probably the thing I hate the most about the prevalence of slop AI images. They make me doubt EVERYTHING.

Thank you for this!

Show threadAI6YR Ben3d ago
@sundogplanets @davidaugust @unlambda I suspect the "filter" you used is actually AI, as well. Which is typical nowadays. It's been asked to redraw the original image in a different style, and it's not "filtering", it's AI slopping it.
Show threadBrian Campbell3d ago
@ai6yr @sundogplanets @davidaugust It's even documented as such: https://www.canva.com/help/style-match/#why-does-my-photo-look-different-after-applying-a-style-
Show threadDavid August ❌👑3d ago

@unlambda @ai6yr @sundogplanets Yeah. I borked up.

https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116648754565456420

Show threadProf. Sam Lawler3d ago
@davidaugust @unlambda @ai6yr May I offer you a pile of super cute goats as a consolation prize?
Show threadDavid August ❌👑3d ago

@sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

YES! Thank you. Quite welcome.

Still almost can't believe I not only got it wrong but I doubled and kinda tripled down on my wrong. Humiliation is mine, goats help.

Thank you very much!

Show threadMastodon Migration2d ago

@davidaugust @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

Don't think you should feel bad about getting taken in by the slop merchants.

We live in interesting times where nothing may be what it seems. Kudos for making the situation clear once you realized what was going on.

Here's an AI Free label for your troubles to use on your next truly AI Free photography project.

https://mstdn.social/@AIFree/116518630216163799

Show threadMastodon Migration2d ago

@davidaugust @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

Took this as a bit of an opportunity to boost the labels, but a serious issue is knowing the provenance of something like this filter. Wouldn't it be good if you had been able to choose filters attested to be AI Free from the get go, rather than it being a crap shoot?

Show threadDavid August ❌👑2d ago
@mastodonmigration @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr that would be nice. I wish it had been more clear in their interface.
Show threadMastodon Migration2d ago

@davidaugust @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

Would love to see this become more of a marketing thing. That is, people promoting that their tools are AI Free. Kind of like "organic" food products.

Show threadDavid August ❌👑
@mastodonmigration @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr that would be great. I imagine there is already an appetite for it.
May 28 at 6:32pmWeb
Show threadMastodon Migration2d ago

@davidaugust @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

Feel like you experience here is a great case study justifying such an initiative.

Show threadDavid August ❌👑2d ago

@mastodonmigration @sundogplanets @unlambda @ai6yr

I agree.

I am debating if it might be good for me to write up my experience as an article of sorts for my https://stuff.davidaugust.com. Not sure yet if that is a good idea or exactly how to frame it.

David August

Stories, serious articles, satire, tech trends, how to guides and ideas from David August. Actor. Writer. Acting coach.

David August
Show threadProf. Sam Lawler2d ago
@davidaugust @mastodonmigration @unlambda @ai6yr Not quite the same thing, but I wrote up this article https://theconversation.com/an-astronomers-lament-satellite-megaconstellations-are-ruining-space-exploration-215653 after I found myself yelling swear words at the International Space Station, because it's a bright satellite, even though I used to be super excited about watching it. Made me realize my relationship with spaceflight had really dramatically changed thanks to for-profit tech companies, and writing it up helped me sort through that.
An astronomer’s lament: Satellite megaconstellations are ruining space exploration

Megaconstellations of satellites are hindering the most powerful tool for space exploration: telescopes.

The Conversation
Show threadDavid August ❌👑2d ago

@sundogplanets @mastodonmigration @unlambda @ai6yr thank you for this. I am still reeling a bit from my own mistake yesterday, but my enthusiasm for some tech, including space flight tech, has been in flux lately.

The entire framing and purpose of Artemis II highlighted for me the tarnishing effect of the corporate space race for me too.

And projects like Mastodon put in relief my shifting/shifted distemper about social media tech. An article may be starting to percolate for me.

Show threadnovophx1d ago
@sundogplanets @davidaugust @mastodonmigration @unlambda @ai6yr

100% Relatable. Great article. It's a tragedy something so full of hope and relative purity...that has been a beacon of progress and international peaceful cooperation in the name of science...transcending petty politics and violence has been corrupted by hyper-ego-greed driven corporations.