Low-quality FAQ sections on closed threads: AI-generated?

[AxelBoldt]

Closed threads sometimes contain terrible FAQ sections at the bottom; these are not shown to logged-in users.

See for instance here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...houghts-about-the-timescape-cosmology.964801/ The discussion in the thread is reasonable, but the FAQ at the bottom (only shown if you're not logged in) is unhelpful and completely wrong. It looks AI-generated to me.

These FAQ sections may have been put there for SEO purposes, but I think they really make the site look bad.

 

[Nugatory]

These FAQ sections may have been put there for SEO purposes, but I think they really make the site look bad.

They do look bad, but they're also not our content, they're ads somewhat cleverly designed to look like they might be site content. @Greg Bernhardt can comment further, but I doubt that we have any editorial control here.

 

[berkeman]

>>They do look bad, but they're also not our content, they're ads somewhat cleverly designed to look like they might be site content.

I'm not seeing any advertisement part (am I missing it?). All I see is an AI generated FAQ about the title of the thread.

 

[Tom.G]

but I doubt that we have any editorial control here.

Simple solution:
Stop selling ad space to those polluting the space with A.I. fillers.

 

[AxelBoldt]

I'm not seeing any advertisement part (am I missing it?). All I see is an AI generated FAQ about the title of the thread.

If you switch off your ad blocker, you'll see two Google ads in the middle of the FAQ. Note that the ad blocker (uBlock Origin) does not remove the FAQ, only the Google ads.

 

[AxelBoldt]

Simple solution:
Stop selling ad space to those polluting the space with A.I. fillers.

I just noticed that search engines index these FAQs. If you search on Bing for "timescape cosmology" you'll find a link to the PhysicsForums thread and a misleading snippet quoting the FAQ.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Thanks for your feedback @AxelBoldt! @mathwonk had previously commented on this too. The AI test was to provide basic information on the topic, but it failed to be as reliable as you've reported. I have thus removed the FAQs from the threads.

 

[mma]

Thanks for your feedback @AxelBoldt! @mathwonk had previously commented on this too. The AI test was to provide basic information on the topic, but it failed to be as reliable as you've reported. I have thus removed the FAQs from the threads.

Thanks!