The paint.net thing is actually so sad to me. I understand many of the valid concerns with AI, but dogpiling and harassing a freeware developer isn't the way to advocate against AI.

At best you'll be ignored, at worst you'll turn people against your cause. This isn't an isolated incident either, I've seen this type of thing on many platforms (gh, twitter, fedi, bsky) and for all kinds of projects.

There's an irony to this, where maintainers of overlooked, but important free software projects turn to AI tools due to lack of funding/contributions. However, once consumers notice AI is being used, they finally give attention to the project/maintainers... but to attack them. It's an extension of open source entitlement syndrome. (I know pdn is not OSS, but I'm talking in the general.)

I understand there's likely no real strategy to this besides anger. However, I wish the anti-AI movement would organize and pursue their goals in a more productive form, because there is a genuine need for productive pushback and debate against AI booster types.