This is really just a way to save money on human moderators. I'm pretty sure Thingiverse has always forbidden functional weapons. Now they don't have to examine each one, they'll just let the machine deal with it.
this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Wonder how it handles nerf blasters?
image recognition AI is notoriously bad at context, so it'll probably flag half the nerf blasters as "potential weapons" and require human review anyway lol
My guess, and confirmed by another comment, is that the ai only flags posts for review. Then the moderators have to manually check the post.
Honestly, it's not a terrible use of AI in my opinion. Considering posts practically never change, they really only have to scan each post once. The mod can either flag it as safe or remove it. They are probably just running image and text pattern recognition on previously banned posts to flag newly submitted posts.
Finally someone using new tech tools in a sensible and useful way .
My money's on "poorly"
regardless of your stance on them, the fact of the matter is that any major 3d file hoster (Thingiverse, Printables. Cults, etc.) are not the place to get the files to print a firearm. a lot of firearms are found across the Internet and are relatively easy to find
they're perfectly legal where I live and I just think they're neat, but I'll have to destroy them if/when I move to where I want to go
It should be noted that Thingiverse’s policy is against “firearms” and not guns in general. The company has no problem with replica props, airsoft guns, sci-fi blaster toys, or gun-like objects that shoot candy.
…
“AI will be used only to flag potentially harmful designs, but a human will always be the one to decide if something should be removed,” Chapman told Tom’s Hardware. If a file is removed from Thingiverse, it will be removed by a person, not a machine.
This was my biggest worry, otherwise I see 99% of removed files just being cosplay props
So, my potato "launcher" design would be...OK?
As long as the potato isn't made of metal and uses gunpowder to propel it, sure.
No, I actually meant a potato.
Can it launch a 40mm... "potato"?
It's made from PVC, so whatever a 2" potato would be. 52mm?
Combustion assisted vegetable catapult, you mean?
...yes?
Yesss.
In some places it's perfectly legal to manufacture guns with 3d printers. Know your local laws.
I think it is in canada or at least most of one but I'm not eager to look too closely as I don't need the scrutiny on me
I don't need the scrutiny on me
Officer, this guy right here. Lol
I thought it was allowed from what I was told, but looking it up it requires a firearms business license.
Know you're local laws
The one physible item you can always find on on Bit Torrent.