Have AI determine where the thread goes

Ludachris

Ludachris

Well-known member
There are so many ways forums could use AI, which many have pointed out already. One way I was thinking, and I hope someone develops it, is a way to build AI into the POST THREAD process so that we can have one single "Post a Thread" button and the user doesn't have to choose from a long list of forums/subforums where the thread gets posted, AI would do it for them. They could just start typing their new thread and click submit. It would solve one of the things people complain about a lot with forums - not being able to quickly post a question or share content they wanted to share because they have to first decide where it should go.

Down the road, have AI help moderate existing threads and move them around to more appropriate forums/subforums. If questions go unanswered, add a prefix to them or move them to an "unanswered" subforum to unclutter the search results.

The obvious uses are to have AI help answer questions, but I think we could benefit a lot by having AI help simplify using the forum for members who don't understand forums too well (a huge contingent out there now) and help organize the content too through moderator functions/actions, which could be logged, rate limited, and overridden.
 
Last edited:
Interesting suggestion.

(1) But it's just a part of a larger topic: How can AI make Xenforo better for admins and users.

Why not add "Auto tagging" ? Why not add auto spam detection ? Why not add auto-translate ? Why not add a relevant image ? Why not screen content for DMCA violations ? Why not message an admin if the matter is urgent ? Why not link to relevant images in the Media Tab and the Resources tab ? Why not prompt the poster to submit a Support Ticket ? Why not auto link the key Xenforo support documents on this topic. Why not provide a list of internal forum links that may help the poster ? Why not .......

The list is endless. AI could be used to "change" / improve almost EVERY aspect of posting and administering a forum.

(2) Xenforo 3.0 - will not likely have deep AI integration. or ... 3.0 may have some AI, but it may not come out until March 2027 and we won't have that much guidance about it's potential inclusion. So ....

Xenforo AI integration should be a paid addon. Xenforo Inc. should just provide the infrastructure to allow the AI integration (and that's probably alot of work).

Ultimately AI is a WANT for Xenforo forums, and Xenforo Inc. will not see it as a NEED. (IMO).

IMO, the integration of AI really needs a different funding model than currently exists (wait for xf to do it, wait for someone to make an addon).

I wouldn't be surprised is addon makers are working on AI integrations in the background.
 
Ludachris said:
I've never had much luck getting my suggestions considered here. I'll copy and paste it though. Why not.
Click to expand...
I posted it.

Ludachris

Thread 'AI-powered POST THREAD helper'

My suggestion is simple - build AI into the POST THREAD process so that when the user clicks the "Post a Thread" button from anywhere on the site, they're taken to a form and don't have to choose from a long list of forums/subforums where the thread gets posted, AI would do it for them. The user is able to just type their post and click submit. It would no longer be necessary to have the user choose where to post the thread, and we could then put that button in the main navigation menu and not worry about threads being posted in the wrong place.

This would solve one of the things people...
  • Like
  • Love
 
Digital Doctor said:
integration of AI really needs a different funding model
Click to expand...
Is it possible that Xenforo Inc "trains" or "makes models" to enable AI powered options for Xenforo ... and Xenforo websites pay Xenforo Inc. for the service ? Maybe plugin makers could contribute code to Xenforo Inc AI and get a cut of the money somehow ?

Xenforo Inc has some fundamental decisions to make.
  • take @digitalpoint 's suggestion to become more of a content agnostic platform with a forum addon
  • AI integration - how deep ? how to fund ? what is the demand ?
  • is there a future market for open code PHP software ? Focus on Xenforo cloud ?

Lots to think about it seems.
 
Digital Doctor said:
Interesting suggestion.

(1) But it's just a part of a larger topic: How can AI make Xenforo better for admins and users.

Why not add "Auto tagging" ? Why not add auto spam detection ? Why not add auto-translate ? Why not add a relevant image ? Why not screen content for DMCA violations ? Why not message an admin if the matter is urgent ? Why not link to relevant images in the Media Tab and the Resources tab ? Why not prompt the poster to submit a Support Ticket ? Why not auto link the key Xenforo support documents on this topic. Why not provide a list of internal forum links that may help the poster ? Why not .......

The list is endless. AI could be used to "change" / improve almost EVERY aspect of posting and administering a forum.

(2) Xenforo 3.0 - will not likely have deep AI integration. or ... 3.0 may have some AI, but it may not come out until March 2027 and we won't have that much guidance about it's potential inclusion. So ....

Xenforo AI integration should be a paid addon. Xenforo Inc. should just provide the infrastructure to allow the AI integration (and that's probably alot of work).

Ultimately AI is a WANT for Xenforo forums, and Xenforo Inc. will not see it as a NEED. (IMO).

IMO, the integration of AI really needs a different funding model than currently exists (wait for xf to do it, wait for someone to make an addon).

I wouldn't be surprised is addon makers are working on AI integrations in the background.
Click to expand...
That's funny, I mentioned auto-tagging in my suggestion.

And you're right, there really are endless possibilities. I think the most immediate need is to remove barriers from the participation standpoint (reduce the decisions) and simplify the participation process as much as possible. The simpler we make it for users to post, while also maintaining or improving the quality of their posts through auto grammar fixes, title suggestions and other prompts, the better. The auto-tagging of other users will spur more engagement (especially if push notifications would work the same as they do in most social apps, but that's a conversation for another thread), which would be HUGE.

And yes, all of would go a long way for helping admins with organization, simply as a result of helping users be better participants.

I fear you're right about XF not seeing it as a NEED. I'd argue they're wrong. I'd argue the forum model will desperately need it in the near future to compete with new and existing social apps that are sure to make use of it, blazing the path for the future of online communities. But as you pointed out, it may not be seen as a NEED. If it was a paid add-on, so be it. The forum owners who want to trailblaze with the larger communities can pay for it and run with it. The owners of smaller forums who don't care for it don't have to pay for it or take on the bloat in core XF.
 
Last edited:
Digital Doctor said:
Is it possible that Xenforo Inc "trains" or "makes models" to enable AI powered options for Xenforo ... and Xenforo websites pay Xenforo Inc. for the service ? Maybe plugin makers could contribute code to Xenforo Inc AI and get a cut of the money somehow ?

Xenforo Inc has some fundamental decisions to make.
  • take @digitalpoint 's suggestion to become more of a content agnostic platform with a forum addon
  • AI integration - how deep ? how to fund ? what is the demand ?
  • is there a future market for open code PHP software ? Focus on Xenforo cloud ?

Lots to think about it seems.
Click to expand...
The guy that already knows how to do all this is 021. I'll pass on links to these posts for comment.
 
Seeker-Smith said:
The guy that already knows how to do all this is 021
Click to expand...
indeed.

but ... well .... the elephant in the room ....

Seeker-Smith said:
I could myself funding some of this, but it's a huge job.
Click to expand...
it's almost beyond Xenforo.
AI Xenforo is kinda fundamentally different software.

@Kier should come back full time and make a Next Generation Community software.

AI first, forum second.
It could an absolute GAME CHANGER.

The "ideal" AI powered community would require an entirely different interface. Bolting AI onto Xenforo as it is would be quite limiting.
And fundamental things must be decided:

What is the purpose of a community ? And what data structures support that purpose ?
 
Last edited:
Some of this can already be done with the A.I bot add-on. You'd simply write the prompt to do all the extra work and then merge the reply into the original post. But I kind of like being able to pick and choose what you want done in the thread creation phase.

I'll do some testing this weekend to see how many functions I can get accomplished with a post prompt.
 
Back
Top Bottom