-4

I knew the solution of question I used AI to format it well so that the one am answering should have more clear solutions, I answered a question using an AI-generated response, but the answer was deleted (likely for being low quality or AI-generated) due to site policy like on stack overflow site. But my solution was helpful.

If I edit and improve the answer myself like fixing errors, adding explanation, formatting properly, and making sure it follows the site standards.

Can I request undeletion of that answer? Or is any AI-generated answer permanently disqualified, even after substantial improvement?

Also, what are the proper steps to take if I want to get such an answer reviewed for undeletion?

12
  • 4
    You used AI to format the answer well and then your improvement is improving the formatting? Commented Jun 5 at 6:40
  • 21
    "Or is any AI-generated answer permanently disqualified, even after substantial improvement?" YES, as all uses of generative AI are banned on SO and most SE sites, no matter if the answer was useful. That one answer must stay deleted. If you want to give a try to write a proper, original answer, then post it as a new answer, without even looking at the old, deleted one. Commented Jun 5 at 11:22
  • 2
    Did this happen here on Meta Stack Exchange? If not, the best course of action is to ask on the Meta corresponding to the site where the question was posted. Commented Jun 5 at 16:06
  • 5
    As written, this question is unclear, because you don't specify which site you are asking about. Even if you did specify which site, this question would be off-topic, due to being site specific. As has been clearly defined, the policies around AI generated content are site specific, which makes most questions about the policy for handling AI generated content off-topic here on Meta Stack Exchange. You would need to ask on the child meta site for the specific site where you encounter this situation. Commented Jun 5 at 16:44
  • i have edited my question specifying site (Stack Overflow) Commented Jun 6 at 3:52
  • 1
    @RedStoneMatt Reposting new answer on the same page where existing answer was AI generated will mostly result with removal of the new answer, too. Edited AI is still AI underneath, and such answers also violate our AI policy. Commented Jun 6 at 8:11
  • @RedStoneMatt When handling AI flags moderators will commonly look at user's history and will be able to see that user reposted the answer on the same question where they have deleted AI answer. The existing AI answer is the proof that AI was used even for the new one. Again, edited AI is also considered to be AI. Commented Jun 6 at 8:26
  • @RedStoneMatt And as a Stack Overflow moderator, I am telling you that you cannot post such new answer on the question where you have posted AI answer, because it will be treated the same as editing the existing AI answer on that question. I am not talking about posting any other answer anywhere else. You cannot write new answer on the same topic, once you used AI for that topic as you don't have original answer in such case. Commented Jun 6 at 8:41
  • 1
    @RedStoneMatt This is covered by existing AI policy and that Meta post which clearly explains that using AI to generate content in whole or partially, as well as using AI for rewording your own content is not allowed. If you edit AI answer that this is covered by word "partially". Commented Jun 7 at 7:27
  • Related meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/433516/… Commented Jun 7 at 15:39
  • @DalijaPrasnikar "If you edit AI answer that this is covered by word "partially"", yes, but that's not what I'm asking. We all agree that editing AI answers doesn't change the fact that it's AI answers. What I'm asking is where is it written that "you cannot post such new answer on the question where you have posted AI answer, because it will be treated the same as editing the existing AI answer on that question". What in there says that posting a new, non-AI answer will automatically get it treated as if it was AI because OP has posted an AI answer under the same question before? Commented Jun 7 at 22:59
  • 1
    @RedStoneMatt posting as a new answer is merely a technicality. It does not change the origin of the answer. Commented Jun 8 at 6:28

1 Answer 1

4

Some thoughts - burn the AI edited answer to the ground. KEEP NOTHING. Write your answer from scratch in your own words, even if it's not perfect. The community is very good at fixing errors and giving feedback. Listen to them.

If the answer was incorrectly identified by moderators as AI-generated content, then a flag explaining that and asking the mods to undelete may be sufficient. However, it is common for people to claim their post(s) are not AI-generated content, even when it's clear and obvious that the content is AI-generated, so explaining things, which can be done more thoroughly in your response to the moderator message you likely will have received, would be a good idea. If nothing else, it shows an honest attempt to do better.

Finally, one would hope the lesson is learnt. You made a mistake, and it's a good idea not to repeat it.

12
  • 9
    thanks, i think its right and okay. i liked a part you said "Write your answer from scratch in your own words, even if its not perfect. The community is very good at fixing errors and giving feedback" Commented Jun 5 at 7:11
  • 3
    This doesn't make sense. If the advice is to write an entirely new answer, just say that is what should be done. The old garbage can be left buried, it doesn't need burning and then painting over. Commented Jun 5 at 8:07
  • 4
    If nothing else it ensures that the moderators are informed and know that OP realised what they did was wrong and is willing to fix it, as opposed to trying repeatedly to post the same answer Commented Jun 5 at 8:12
  • If they have written an entirely new answer, that is definitively not "trying repeatedly to post the same answer". Commented Jun 5 at 9:26
  • I'm assuming the 'content' is original. Also, I'd suspect most people would get the wrong idea even with a different answer to the same question Commented Jun 5 at 9:33
  • 4
    It's hard to imagine how OP could have felt the need to use AI the first time around, while also feeling confident in the ability to post fundamentally the same answer without using AI. Commented Jun 6 at 4:38
  • 1
    Well I took the question at face value. Sometimes you can be technically competent, but have problems with the english language? Commented Jun 6 at 4:44
  • 1
    No flame to OP, but the English language is something they seem to struggle with, so it makes sense they'd use AI to help out with grammar a bit. Commented Jun 6 at 4:50
  • 1
    On Stack Overflow mods will also delete such new answer. Rephrased AI is still AI. User who needed AI to post answer in the first place, will almost never be in the position to write the original answer second time around. General advice is to focus on answering new questions, not trying to fix unfixable AI answers. Commented Jun 6 at 8:13
  • 4
    @JourneymanGeek I see what you're trying to say. Learn from your mistake, change courses, avoid posting AIGC, move on to contribute meaningfully. These are good advice, but the first sentence of your answer gives the "vibe" that you are condoning editing AIGC and presenting it as your own work (which as it is evident by your answer to Nij, you are not saying that). I would consider rewording that a little bit to reflect your thoughts more clearly. Cheers. Commented Jun 6 at 15:54
  • 7
    I've heavily edited this to be closer aligned to the policy here on Stack Overflow. My edit goes beyond what I'd normally consider appropriate, as it changes the answer. However, the answer was offering advice clearly against policy here on Stack Overflow, yet retained the votes it received on Meta Stack Exchange, which implied that it was something people agreed with, even though it was directly contrary to existing policy that has a wide consensus. If it had been posted here originally, I would have left it, but, given the migration, I considered the other alternative to be deletion. Commented Jun 7 at 13:08
  • 2
    @Otaku - The author used AI to generate the entire response. They didn’t use it to rewrite or correct what they wrote themselves. We will be fine without an AI generated answer to a question that can be answered by a LLM Commented Jun 7 at 21:28

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.