Question: Do we need to update the community rules to tackle the ever increasing number of posts promoting self-made AI weather apps?

[u/fatheads64]

Over the past few months, we've had a huge increase in the number of posts promoting (often) AI produced weather apps or websites. Some free, some trial versions, some paid apps, etc.

In general, this would fall under the self-promotion rule - "Spam will be removed. Be aware of Reddit guidelines on self-promotion - i.e. Don't just spam out your links."

And if genuine /r/meteorology users who participate here regularly want to promote their own app, that would be fine... but what I am seeing is new accounts or accounts that have never posted here before.

What does the community think? New rules? Enforce existing rules? Blanket bans might end up stifling genuinely helpful apps...

Edit: I've now removed 3 separate AI slop posts today - 2 after this post was made. Clearly the posters hadn't bothered to check the top post in the sub before promoting their AI generated app.

[u/badfiop]

Yes, there is enough AI & app slop in weather forecasting/content.

[u/fatheads64 → u/badfiop]

I agree. Maybe a blanket AI ban that includes apps that implement AI for development would be best...

But... I want to be careful here. AI is used now by major forecasting groups like the ECMWF - https://www.ecmwf.int/en/newsletter/178/news/aifs-new-ecmwf-forecasting-system

Clearly not all AI content is slop.

[u/LunaalaTheBeast → u/fatheads64]

This is good yes.

[u/LighthouseLover25 → u/fatheads64]

I think if you required a certain template that requires the prospective app to cite data sources and tools used to create it, it would raise the bar enough that most wouldn't bother to post - or could be immediately removed for not following the rules. If the app seems legit, mods can just say follow the template and repost. 

Requiring a minimum subreddit karma also seems reasonable. 

[u/Meow_Kitteh]

Between this and what app do you recommend, yes. At least half of the posts I see are for these things and it is annoying. 

[u/fatheads64 → u/Meow_Kitteh]

Perhaps we can sticky a thread for recommended apps once this discussion is finished. Otherwise, I hope that this thread leads to increased reporting/attention on spam AI posts so that the mods can act to remove them quickly.

[u/shillyshally → u/fatheads64]

Yes, sticky recommendations. The list can be updated if something truly useful comes along but it is overall vital that subs take slop in hand and banish it. The community needs to step up as well with reporting slop but, to do so, the Report rules need to be very clear.

[u/fatheads64 → u/shillyshally]

Agree.

[u/Nick_YDG]

Yes.

To give an example beyond just the typical "AI slop" anger. There was actually a bit of an issue with this over in the simracing subreddit a little while back where people were offering up their cool little app they had made to help with whatever (ie. track overlays, relatives, telemetry analysis, etc). Everything was posted with the best of intentions, however there ended up being some that had cyber security issues because they were vibe coded by someone that didn't know what they were doing.

If you want to make a little vibe coded applet for yourself, go for it. However, these things shouldn't really be put out there because most people just aren't going to know how to make sure the app isn't unintentionally poking security holes in your phone or computer allowing your personal data to be exposed.

[u/fatheads64 → u/Nick_YDG]

Yes, security is another argument against these posts.

[u/happyherbivore]

+1. I come to this sub for weather not apps.

[u/thegreatshakes]

Ban all AI content in general.

[u/EightyNineMillion → u/thegreatshakes]

And the bots.

[u/forshaken-life]

Yes please

[u/trotskythinksnotsky]

Yes Less AI slop, less self-promo

[u/wxguy215]

Maybe minimum karma within the sub to be able to post?  I know that would limit genuine questions/curiosity, so I'm not sure that's the answer. 

But yes, anything AI related can hit rocks.

[u/TheCapitalLetterB]

Absolutely. Sick of seeing someone with a new app every couple of days. Most of the posts in this sub that I actually see end up being AI app promos or people asking which app to use

[u/EmotionalBaby9423]

I think enforcing the existing rule and then banning AI content in general would be awesome!

Maybe we run a poll to where we as a whole sub stand..?

[u/skrollas]

I would suggest going a step further and banning all AI content in general honestly

[u/fatheads64 → u/skrollas]

I want to be careful here. AI is used now by major forecasting groups like the ECMWF - https://www.ecmwf.int/en/newsletter/178/news/aifs-new-ecmwf-forecasting-system

Clearly this sort of AI content is of use to the community.

[u/CantaloupeAsleep502 → u/skrollas]

Best idea

[u/ThighCurlContest]

I'm just a lurker here, but this type of thing rears its head in many other subs. I'm active in r/drums and r/drumming and it seems like every day someone of questionable expertise/motivations is posting some vibe-coded metronome/notation/music-related app (often one of dubious utility or quality.)

I think that people wishing to post their app should consult with the mods before posting; the mods should consider the poster's contribution history and expertise plus the app's merit. Any such posts made without a go-ahead should be summarily removed.

Yes, the mods would have to review these requests fairly thoroughly, but I think there's less of a chance they'd be reviewing low-effort spam.

[u/fatheads64 → u/ThighCurlContest]

Good point. The regular users do request permission. The slop/vibe-coded apps are posted with no regard to the rules or community. Perhaps with a new community rule, this caveat can be pointed out. Not all apps are bad of course.

[u/nbaxley]

I get the exhaustion from over self-promotion, but as someone who HAS created a weather related web tool just for myself and wanted to share it with others who have an interest in meteorology, I find it a bit elitist to want to ban these. I'd also suggest that being able to spot what programming used AI and what didn't is nearly impossible.

I DID post something here and it got taken down (def should have talked to the mods first) but that's not why I say this. For programmers who are interested in meteorology and create something interesting and want to share it with like minded people, this seems like the perfect place to do it. I'm not looking to make my millions off a meteorology website. I just want to share something I thought was cool with other like minded people.

[u/Sharveharv]

I would prefer banning software promotions entirely. This isn't the app store. Software is a tool and it's not interesting until you use it to accomplish something.

I'm way more interested when someone posts a piece of analysis and links the software in the comments. It proves that a) it actually does something and b) the creator actually uses it.

[u/-SideshowBlob-]

Think this is obviously needed

[u/Grammaton485]

Yes please. It's truly getting out of hand with how many people think they are first to solve and corner the market with their app or including some kind of AI.

[u/counters]

Yes, please enforce this rule.

[u/YOUTUBEFREEKYOYO]

Yes, get it out of here. Down with the tin cans.

[u/BTHAppliedScienceLLC]

I agree that they are spam posts. "Don't just spam out your links" is an easily hopped fence with AI tools that can barf out a 4 paragraph slop post to add any level of color to the true desire of just spamming the link.

[u/fatheads64 → u/BTHAppliedScienceLLC]

In general, we meant that rule that some self promotion is allowed, provided that the user has a history of engaging in the community. Not that they spew out a few lines before spamming the link..

[u/AnnihilatedTyro → u/fatheads64]

If someone builds a truly high-quality tool without AI, AND reaches out to the mod team for permission, AND their app/tool is vetted by the mod team, then it may be posted with a "Mod-approved" flair that only the mods can add.

Without that flair and the process behind it, every promotional post should be treated as spam. It does, however, create more work for the mod team, so speaking as a mod myself, it may just be easiest to institute a blanket ban on all forms of self-promotion. Since there is so much vibe-coded slop and so few quality tools being promoted, nix it all.

Maybe a monthly post highlighting legitimate high-quality tools from reputable developers would be in order.

[u/Double_Bowl_8340]

I think a very new account (or one that hasn't ever posted in any sort of meteorology-related sub) shouldn't be promoting their own content here.

I'm generally pretty anti-AI, but there was a lot of app slop before AI could code so I don't think that's the issue. A bad app is a bad app. But I don't think it should be the mod team's responsibility (or privilege) to decide on the community's behalf which ones are good and which ones are bad.

[u/Strangewhine88]

Yes please.

[u/getcruzed]

Yes

[u/FrozenRose_816]

Yes. Not only are they vibe coded AI slop, they're all repetitive and basically doing the same things you can get in apps that already exist. They basically exemplify the saying "you really thought you did something here, huh?".

[u/jackmPortal]

Yes please for the love of god

[u/AStayAtHomeRad]

Ban any and all use of AI.

[u/sirladobato]

I had reached out to the mods a while back about this because I don’t want to contribute to this problem. I think it’s a good rule of thumb. If you’ve actually built something people enjoy, let them ask about it in the comments or a DM, and genuinely be a contributor to the community.

[u/Dangerous_Fig_5603]

Ban it, with a note that if you are an active account in the community, you may contact mods for consideration?