Want to avoid AI gen on Steam? This browser userscript might save your day

With more and more game developers creating AI slop, or just using AI generation for stupid things in their games, we need more ways to avoid them.

The problem is for me, I'm so busy that it's just easy to miss. The AI notice on Steam page is buried is small writing at the bottom of a store page. Steam itself has no filters for it currently either, although the community site SteamDB does and the list is a lot bigger than I expected. 12,284 games on Steam have an AI disclosure according to SteamDB at time of writing. I was going to say "that's a crazy number!", but it's not really is it? I'm sure many GamingOnLinux readers fully expected a lot of developers to end up pushing out slop with AI generation.

Thankfully, an open source browser userscript was pointed out to me on Bluesky (thanks!) which really makes it impossible to miss. With that installed, when going to a Steam page that has an AI disclosure, you get this appear before you're able to actually do anything:

I love how simple and most importantly how effective it is. The important thing is that doesn't stop you doing anything, or taking a look - it just makes sure you're fully aware of the AI gen use. Hopefully never again will I completely waste my time playing through a game, writing it up and then suddenly remembering - "Oh yeah, I have to check if they stuck AI generation in it".

I'm sure some readers might find my stance on AI generation a bit harsh perhaps, but when there's tens of thousands of games releasing every year — my time (and yours!) is a premium currency. Why would I want to spend my time with a game full of AI generation, when I could play one that had real actual people craft the work. I can just skip over a game with it for a different game without it. Some of the AI use just seems completely daft as well, one I saw earlier noted how it was used for "Icons + Artists Paintover for 5 icons, out of 100s of artist icons" (Kingdoms Reborn) and in that case I think like…why was it even needed at all?

Using this browser userscript, and remembering to check SteamDB, it's a genuine surprise to see just how many titles have now added an AI disclosure. To my surprise even games like My Summer Car, The Outlast Trials and Siralim Ultimate have the notice.

Hopefully you find it helpful. With tools like the recent EdenSpark announcement, we're going to see more AI games.