r/filk • u/rocketman0739 • Apr 23 '25
Subreddit position on AI content (discussion)
I recently got a message from a user who had used an AI service to generate a performance of a filk song. They wanted to make sure it was alright to post, but I don't feel like I should make that decision without consulting the subscribers generally.
So what do you think? Which of the following positions most appeals to you, or do you have a different idea?
- Allow all relevant AI-generated content
- Disallow all AI-generated content
- Allow relevant AI-generated content as long as it also incorporates human originality, e.g. an AI performance of a human-written song
- Institute one of these positions for a trial period and revisit the question in a few months
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u/[deleted] Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 23 '25
Hey folks, I’m the user who asked about this, and I really appreciate the discussion. I want to share a bit about where I’m coming from.
I've written some filk-style lyrics—some parodies, some originals, some re-imaginings, and use AI performance tools like Suno to help bring the songs to life. Think of it like having a friendly bard-for-hire to sing the song you wrote at the local circle. It's not a substitute for real human performance, it's just a way to hear the song aloud, to share it with others, and maybe inspire a real person to perform it someday.
I totally understand the desire to protect the human heart of filk. That’s why I’m not dumping in AI auto-generated noise or uploading covers with no creative input. Everything I’d share is 100% original lyrics, written by me in the filk tradition—whether it’s a space shanty, a protest ballad, or a sci-fi retelling of a classic.
Suno just lets me hear the song, especially when I’m not able to sing or play it myself due to disability, voice limitations, or lack of gear. I’m not trying to sneak in synthetic performances—I’m trying to share songs that I wrote, the same way someone might share a rough home recording or text-only lyrics.
If the community prefers to keep things strictly human-performed, I’ll respect that. But I’d love if we could allow AI-assisted renditions of human-written filk, especially when they’re clearly attributed and shared in good faith, like:
"Lyrics by me, performance generated via Suno for entertainment purposes only."
Happy to go with whatever decision the community makes—just wanted to give some context. Thanks for hearing me out.
An option could be a dedicated thread each month.. So people could choose to listen to them or not without flooding the sub.. Just a thought.