The recent surge in popularity of Pikmin Bloom in Taiwan has led many players to disregard Wayfarer standards in their quest to “create” Postcards. Current AI systems are unable to accurately distinguish whether a nominated photo is AI-generated or if it actually contains the intended Wayspot object.
After their photos are reported and subsequently removed by human moderators, many players take to social media—brandishing their initial approval emails—to question why an approved photo would be taken down, thereby challenging the necessity of the review system.
The following recommendations are proposed:
Discontinue the use of AI: Stop using AI to determine whether a photo should be accepted.
Raise the Wayfarer eligibility threshold: Since leveling up in Pokémon GO is now easier than before, the requirement should no longer remain at Level 35.
Impose harsher penalties: Apply stricter consequences to nominators who submit AI-generated photos; ideally, this should include the simultaneous suspension of their Pikmin Bloom accounts.
I can vouch for the original poster’s claims here; they are all true.
The Pikmin players’ alterations and modifications, including adding effect, even add an animal that doesn’t exist at all. Even the most easily identifiable alterations like this, AI still couldn’t detect them.
Some even retained the Gemini logo in the lower right corner.
And, after these fake images were reported and taken down,
they were immediately questioned, “Didn’t they pass review in the first place?”
This has led to increasingly deeper misunderstandings, which is hardly a good thing!
Furthermore, I hope the Wayfarer team can educate Pikmin players in the game about what a proper Wayspot Photo is. I think 90% of Pikmin players believe that a beautiful landscape photo is a good Wayspot photo.
First we lost automatic nomination approvals by the machine learning model because of abusers. Now it has become clear that automatic photo approvals by the machine learning model needs to be disabled as well. I despise abuse.
Unfortunately we have seen when the AI is down the amount of stuff that gets nominated is ridiculous so the AI is removing a lot of poor nominations (it also removes a few good ones).
I think lots of people show concern whenever the level is lowered but it does seem that after an initial period where we do see nominations that shouldn’t be made it settles down.
It also allows a broader spectrum of Reviewers which I am coming round to believing is a good thing.
This I do agree.
people can accidentally misplace a nomination, not understand criteria correctly but if you create something with AI then you are 100% know that you are cheating and IMO a lifetime ban is suitable.
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and thoughtful feedback with us regarding the recent trends you’ve observed in Taiwan.
We completely understand your concerns about the influx of low-quality or AI-generated photos submitted for Postcards, as well as the frustration caused by invalid approvals that lead to confusion. Maintaining the integrity of the map and upholding high Wayfarer standards is extremely important to us.
I have noted your feedback and will pass your specific recommendations directly to the Wayfarer team for review and consideration.