Unicorn Riot, as an organization, has observed the rapid rise of AI across platforms and technologies that has happened over the last several years. As industries adapt and adopt these tools, we recognize the need to have a clear, firm and transparent stance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language models (LLMs).
News media has been especially affected by AI’s emergence. As an outlet committed to delivering raw, unfiltered truth, the trust we’ve built with our audience and sources over the last decade-plus is one of our most closely held values, and we will not betray that trust.
As such, we will never use generative AI to create content. We will not use GenAI to create images we publish, and we will not use GenAI to create or substantially alter footage we publish. Any and all media you see on Unicorn Riot will be human-made.
Given the now near-ubiquity of AI in much of the software and hardware that we rely on to do our work, we may use some AI-enhanced or AI-dependent tools for minor tasks which have in the past been done manually. Some examples include small image editing tasks like removing the background from an image during graphic design work or generating subtitles for a video we’re publishing. Such tasks may require the use of AI in our software. However, any work done with the aid of AI will be managed, reviewed and checked for accuracy (both factual and contextual) by the human controlling the process as well as other editors.
We may, as we deem editorially appropriate, use LLMs (with a preference for locally controlled and operated models when available) to compile, organize and synthesize data sets or other large quantities of information in the course of reporting. Results from any such use will be scrutinized for accuracy by the person controlling the process as well as other editors. If such tools are used in the process of reporting a story, we will note their use and include details about the process, including what prompts were used and what LLM provided the results. We may also use AI-assisted tools for transcribing long segments of audio into text for use as subtitles and transcripts to accompany reporting. If we deem it appropriate to do so, we will verify the accuracy of the transcription and note in the final published material the use of AI in creating the transcript.
If any member, contributor, contractor, or any other affiliate who provides editorial content to Unicorn Riot is found to have violated this policy, they may be barred from further producing editorial content for Unicorn Riot, and we may sever our working relationship with them. In the event that content produced with AI makes it through our editorial process and is published, we will correct the error by removing the offending content and noting any such changes in an editor’s note in the original work. In the event the whole work is removed, we will announce the correction and removal elsewhere.
As tools and technology develop, we will revisit and revise this policy as necessary. While this policy represents our good-faith effort to clarify our stance on AI use in our organization, given the vast and rapidly changing nature of AI and its use, we may miss developments or important points in this policy. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact us at info@unicornriot.ninja. [Published Nov. 5, 2026]