Resisting AI

Fans of generative AI keep trying to tell us that it’s inevitable and that we will be “left behind” if we do not adopt it. In reality, there are many people resisting it, documenting its failures, and refusing to use it.

Register your identity as prohibiting the use of AI with this tool from RSL Media.

Check out the AI Resist List.

Check out my list of how to avoid using generative AI.

Read: Tania Duarte et al (2025), Resisting, Refusing, Reclaiming, Reimagining: Charting Challenges to Narratives of AI Inevitability.

Read: Luke Plunkett (2026), “Welcome To The Resistance: Meet The Workers Dodging (And Sabotaging) Their Employer’s AI Mandates.” Aftermath.

Read about the Unitarian Universalist software developer who successfully fought for an exemption from using AI at work.

Check out Mickie Mueller’s Human Intelligence Project.

Pagans, polytheists, Heathens, animists: contribute to the anthology of responses to AI that I’m editing.

I’ll update this post with more information as more anti-AI tools and resources come online.

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Additional items

Added 4 August 2026

• Stop ICE surveillance with AI and Flock cameras
• 📕 Resisting AI: An anti-fascist approach to artificial intelligence by Dan McQuillan
• Philip Nel (2025), “How to resist the lure of AI” (and why you should)
• Pope Leo XIV (2026), Magnificent Humanity (encyclical)

Added 5 August 2026

• Sign the Pro-Human Statement
• The Pro-Human Declaration
• Earthboard.art – creating and sharing art without AI

Added 9 August 2026

• Delphi Tools — a collection of useful file manipulation tools with no registration required
• Fybe Arts — a no genAI replacement for Etsy
• Mojeek search engine — has its own web crawler and doesn’t reuse Google or Bing. No AI.
• Marginalia search — prioritizes non-commercial content

Added 14 August

• Sophia Rehman (2026), “Muslims and the Machine: Towards an Islamic Ethical Use of AI.” Amaliah.
• Ruby Helyer (2025), Reclaim creativity: I ditched AI features with these 6 powerful design tools. QXDA.
• Ian Dean (2026), 5 AI-free apps every artist needs to try in 2026. CreativeBloq.

Added 15 August

• Meghan Elison — a refusal to appear at events where genAI is promoted

Added 20 August

• Artists against generative AI Facebook group
• Hannah Cyrus (2026), “Refusal as Instruction: Equipping Patrons to Resist Al, Data Brokers, Big Tech, & More.” Information Technology and Libraries, 45(1). doi.org/10.5860/ital.v45i1.17653
• Amanda Silberling (2026), “Librarians are hosting viral ‘Avoiding Al’ workshops for people who are fed up with Big Tech.” Tech Crunch.