In response to the partnership announcement, some users have attempted to alter or delete their Stack Overflow posts in protest, arguing that the move exploits those who contributed to the platform without an opt-out option. Stack Overflow staff have reportedly been banning these users and erasing or reverting the protest posts. Stack Overflow's terms of service state that users cannot revoke permission for Stack Overflow to use their contributed content, and the site uses a Creative Commons 4.0 license that requires attribution. The rollout of the ChatGPT integrations has not yet occurred, and it remains to be seen whether they will satisfy the disgruntled users.
Key takeaways:
- Stack Overflow and OpenAI have announced a partnership that will integrate Stack Overflow's technical content with OpenAI's ChatGPT AI assistant, sparking controversy among Stack Overflow's user community.
- Some users are protesting by altering or deleting their contributions to the platform, arguing that the move exploits their labor without an opt-out option.
- In response, Stack Overflow staff have been banning those users and erasing or reverting the protest posts, stating that once posts are made, they become part of the collective efforts of other contributors.
- While Stack Overflow owns user posts, the site uses a Creative Commons 4.0 license that requires attribution, and it remains to be seen if the ChatGPT integrations will honor that license to the satisfaction of disgruntled Stack Overflow users.