Through Citizens Create, we hope to encourage creativity and curiosity about the world and the systems we live within. It is with this spirit that we discourage the use of generative A.I. in submission materials. This is because:

-Generative A.I. images/videos use materials from artists who did not consent to the use of their work and it is impossible to credit the artists whose work is being referenced by generative A.I.

-Demand for generative A.I. increases demand for data centers that are incredibly harmful to local communities, and energy costs are generally several times higher than a typical web search

-Big money is extremely invested in the public getting on board with and investing in generative A.I., profiting off of the threats to ecological and human health while leveraging the 'threat' of A.I. to intimidate workers into accepting less favorable pay and/or conditions 

Instead, below are a few free content creation resources:

-Free photo editing/illustration/graphic design tools: Canva, Krita, Gimp

-Free photos and footage: Unsplash, Pexels, Wiki Commons 

Citizens Create is not affiliated with any of the above tools—please use your own discretion when trying out a new program or website!