Reddit Open Source Forum Bans AI And Demands Users Speak English

The rise of AI generated code has led to an explosion of open-source projects, ranging from making classic gaming experiences available on PC to attempts at providing users with viable alternatives to software giants. This increase in activity has also led to tensions in open source communities, with one of those communities deciding to ban AI wholesale along with other drastic rule changes.

A moderator in the r/opensource subreddit laid out the new rules in a post entitled “Your token aren’t valuable: No more AI.” If a project leverages AI in any way or is built with AI in mind, then it will no longer be welcome on this subreddit. The reasoning behind the change is that “AI, as it exists today, is incongruent to this open source community.”

The AI ban isn’t the only major change coming to this community. Projects must be at least a year old and be actively maintained with several contributors, they can’t be capstone projects, and they must already have a community of their own. Additionally, a Redditors’ account must also meet the 1-year age requirement along with having made “significant Reddit contributions.”


Most controversially, non-English language posts will no longer be allowed. “If you don't speak English, you need to find a different community. We cannot distinguish between AI-written and AI-translated. Since you don't speak English, you can't even verify yourself if it translated correctly.”

While it’s understandable that moderators and longtime members of the community might’ve become frustrated with the influx of projects and those creating them, the rule changes feel draconian.

For example, young coders who might be jumping into the open source scene for the first time will be unlikely to meet the account age requirements or be able to have built a community on their own because they lack the experience. It seems unwise to freeze out these future contributors.

The English language requirement could’ve also been handled differently. Users could’ve been required to post in their original language along with a translated version so that others could verify for accuracy. It would be more time consuming, but it would make the community more accessible and leave the doors open to talented coders who don’t live in English speaking countries.

AI coders won’t be short for places where they can go, though, as several other communities on Reddit don’t have similar rules in place, such as r/OpenSourceAIAllowed and r/OpenSourceWare.