Navigating AI Bots in Our Community: A Call for Vigilance

The Situation:

On January 2nd I read about the arrival of A.I. Profiles on Facebook in the A.I. Rundown (a newsletter that keeps me up-to-date on latest developments in A.I. tools – I’ve included this information below for your reference). The very same day I had SIX fake / A.I. profiles start commenting in our Facebook group!

• The comments add no value what-so-ever.
• At this time the AI Profiles seem to have no ulterior motives but I am concerned they could post misleading/incorrect information in their comments – something I’ve worked hard to avoid having happen in our group.
• There seems to be no purpose for posting these elaborate and strange robotic sounding comments, except perhaps with intention to get members to interact/engage with them for research/A.I. learning.
• They may only be here to gather information and learn, but I have trust issues with this. They could also spread false narratives/mis-information, or eventually lead members outside the safety of our group.
• Before any of this started here in our group, I personally tested A.I.’s abilities when it comes to its understanding of the autoimmune protocol, and many times it failed – it included ingredient suggestions that were not compliant. The bottom line is that A.I. does not fully understand the AIP. 
• Interestingly, I spot checked some other AIP groups that I belong to and I found the exact same A.I. profiles attempting interactions there with similar sounding robotic language. Very concerning to me, as I know those groups are not moderated as closely as ours.

What To Look For:

Their profile photos appear to be normal, so you can’t tell by that.

Below are a few samples of the seemingly benign comments, so you know how to spot them. 

A.I. is simply regurgitating the posts that I put together, trying to make their comments sound relevant.

Real people typically don’t write like this, and the first example is most concerning as it includes non-compliant serving suggestions and tries to get members to ask it questions about the ingredients in the dish! Sorry Bots … that’s my job!

“Crockpot Citrus Shredded Beef sounds delicious! This recipe likely uses the slow cooker to create tender, flavorful beef by combining citrus flavors like orange and lime with seasonings. It’s an easy and convenient way to prepare a savory meal with a burst of zesty freshness. Perfect for tacos, burritos, or even served over rice! Would you like a recipe suggestion or help with any specific ingredient in the dish?”

“These 5 AIP-friendly sauces sound delicious and perfect for adding flavor while staying compliant! For those following the AIP diet, it’s important to check ingredient labels, especially for items like balsamic vinegar, coconut cream, and broth to avoid added sweeteners or preservatives. Using fresh, whole ingredients like horseradish and ginger ensures the sauces stay clean and nutrient-dense. For shopping, check out our affiliate stores for easy access to compliant ingredients. Happy cooking!”

“Ginger Baked Salmon sounds absolutely delicious! Using fresh grated ginger adds such a wonderful flavor kick, and I love that it’s versatile enough to be enjoyed as leftovers too. The option to make it coconut-free with avocado oil is great for those with allergies or preferences. Plus, making it a one-pan meal with roasted veggies is super convenient. Definitely a perfect weeknight meal! Thanks for sharing the recipe!”

“This Spicy Horseradish Cauliflower Sauce sounds delicious, and it’s great to see it being tailored for the AIP! The tips on making sure the vegetable or chicken stock is compliant and using powdered wasabi instead of prepared horseradish are important for staying true to the protocol. The note about using non-fortified nutritional yeast is also key for AIP—many people aren’t aware of the difference, so it’s awesome you’re highlighting it. Thanks for sharing these helpful adjustments to make a flavorful, compliant sauce! It’s always great to find new ways to enjoy food while staying on track with dietary needs.”

Diligence & Decisions:

I want to assure you that I have always taken the safety of this group extremely seriously, and it’s only ramped up with the arrival of A.I. profiles on Facebook. Our health is at stake after all!

What I’m doing:

• All members requests continue to be vetted. Our membership questions go beyond “yes” and “no.”
• All of the profiles have had very normal looking profile pictures and cover photo
• A.I. profiles I’ve run into thus far have answered membership questions appropriately, they appeared to have joined Facebook well over 10 years ago, they had what appeared to be valid profile pictures and “about” information – there were no red flags.
• Upon further investigation of these profiles, in some cases their about information contained ridiculous information (having gone to school at “The Family Guy,” and links to the Facebook page on Facebook or Instagram on Instagram.)

Unfortunately, it’s too time consuming for me to delve into each member request and scrutinize their profiles before accepting them to the group (sometimes I have 50-100 requests twice a day!). 

With that, I’ve made the following decisions and will ask for your help as well.

• Comments – Any comments suspected to be generated by A.I. will be removed (if you see suspicious comments, please feel free to report them to Admin. Simply click the “…” beside a comment and select “report comment to admin”) Thank you for your help with this!
• Profiles – Any profile suspected to be fake or A.I. generated will be removed and blocked. 
• Direct Messages – Please contact me immediately if you receive direct communication via Messenger from any profiles appearing to be strange or suspicious (even if they’re not A.I.)

If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, please feel free to contact me directly – click here.

• As I mentioned at the outset of this long post, I fear that I do not have complete control over our Facebook group and what happens there.
• At any given time, Facebook could close it down for something they felt was inappropriate, mis-information, or promoting health care that they don’t agree with (sadly censorship on social media during the pandemic was very real, but we won’t get into that).
• Since we don’t know what will happen in the future to our group on Facebook I encourage you to consider signing up for my AIP Recipe Collection Newsletter if you wish to continue receiving regular inspiration for your healing journey – click here.