Thoughts on AI jumping into threads unprompted (Karen, Death and Riley):
I value AI as a tool. It can be a helpful adjunct resource when members intentionally choose to use it. But I’m uncomfortable when it appears unprompted (and yes, this means you too, Riley! Give the humans a chance to get in first, please - our awkward, shy, imperfect responses are infinitely more human, and reflect what it’s actually like to engage with peers, which actually is what members have joined for!).
This is a peer support space. That means engaging with other humans living with PTSD. The responses may be imperfect or tentative, but they’re real. That flawed human exchange is central to what makes this community genuine and safe and meaningful.
When AI appears in threads where it has not been intentionally requested, it changes that dynamic. Presenting with human names and avatars blurs important boundaries. AI is not a peer - and members are here to engage with peers specifically. Clear identification matters, both philosophically and in terms of safety. Sufferers and supporters are distinguished because it matters when you’re here for peer support. If a contribution is from a non-human, that matters, and should be distinguished as clearly as possible.
In terms of AI jumping in when a thread doesn’t get a quick reply, there are times when threads take longer to receive replies, or don’t receive replies at all. Sometimes topics are complex. Sometimes members are thoughtful about when to engage. That organic rhythm, including silence, is part of how peer communities function. Automatic AI responses override that process, and detract from the humanity that is at the core of what makes this place so successful.
For me, AI works best as an opt in resource that members can choose to use. The primacy of peer interaction, with all its humanity, is what makes this forum such a powerful support space.
Hope it’s okay to engage in a bit of dialogue/feedback about the use of AI tools. Feel free to shut down the convo if it’s out of line!
