It’s great! But let’s make the AI optional.
I really love iNaturalist and the community that it builds, but the AI eats up my phone power and makes me feel so guilty about damage it’s doing to the environment. Please make the AI optional!
Disagree with AI use
Uses generative AI to ID photos, would not have downloaded if I’d been aware of this. Disappointed, since I heard good things about iNaturalist and it’s community based identification. Does iNat classic not use AI?
Easily my favorite ID app
It’s super, super easy to upload photos, ID species, and add species IDs to other peoples’ photos. I love taking walks and taking pictures in the app. It’s also so awesome to connect with your local science community outside of clubs.
As for suggestions - I haven’t used the web version yet, so maybe this is easier on computer, but I would love if the app had:
- a way to bulk edit locations (like if I took a bunch of pics at 1 park, it’s time consuming to add the location to 30 observations when I get home)
- accessibility settings to make the location markers larger, it takes like 5 tries for me to tap them exactly, they have an annoyingly small hit box
As for suggestions - I haven’t used the web version yet, so maybe this is easier on computer, but I would love if the app had:
- a way to bulk edit locations (like if I took a bunch of pics at 1 park, it’s time consuming to add the location to 30 observations when I get home)
- accessibility settings to make the location markers larger, it takes like 5 tries for me to tap them exactly, they have an annoyingly small hit box
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Wish there was an option to block spiders
This app is great fun, I really enjoy seeing what people in my area have posted but I wish there was some way to block seeing a main species, my phobia of spiders is so strong I cannot see photos of them so it can be hard to browse knowing they are mixed in with all the other observations. Secondly I can never get the map icons to open up an observation, this feature only works for me on the web version? I also wish the icons got much bigger as you zoom in on them in the map. Overall such a great concept and way to track animal populations
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Another bought out app
I recently discovered this app, recommended by someone on TikTok. So I downloaded it earlier, hoping to discover new spiders in my home! But ofcourse, I do research into apps I support. It didn’t take me long to find out they accepted a 1.5 million deal by google to use ai. A bunch of their users protested and stopped using the app. It is such a shame to see an app lose its trusted followers just for extra money.
Although they are not using the most common wide spread ai that is getting hated on and destroying environments, currently. This most likely won’t stop them from doing such in the future. The pushback from their community stopped them from their most recent ai project, so I’ve read. So the only reason they stopped was not because of morals, but because of how their community appropriately reacted. Apparently they stopped using a ai summary tool, most likely similar to what google does when you search up something now on there. But this doesn’t mean they won’t use harmful ai in the future if they can be bought out.
The app is so good to use and I’d hate to lose it if I see more harmful ai as I continue to use the app.
Although they are not using the most common wide spread ai that is getting hated on and destroying environments, currently. This most likely won’t stop them from doing such in the future. The pushback from their community stopped them from their most recent ai project, so I’ve read. So the only reason they stopped was not because of morals, but because of how their community appropriately reacted. Apparently they stopped using a ai summary tool, most likely similar to what google does when you search up something now on there. But this doesn’t mean they won’t use harmful ai in the future if they can be bought out.
The app is so good to use and I’d hate to lose it if I see more harmful ai as I continue to use the app.
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Great plant and animal identifier would recommend
Would give six stars if I could
One of the best identifier apps
Uses non generative ai to identify any species under the sun (to the best of its abilities, the better the photo the more accurate the ID). If it’s wrong other people will step in and correct you. Every observation you make can help researchers, as this app can help map the distribution of species along with possible migratory patterns. The app reminds me of an irl Pokédex, identify new species to add to your list and read descriptions about them
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Favourite App
Absolutely love this app. It has become one of my biggest hobbies, exploring in the woods or around my neighborhood finding animals, plants, etc. Feels like Pokémon + science.
Lack of Explanation about App Updates
The app developer keeps updating this app but always fails to explain what exactly changes or why.
Are there bug fixes? Privacy changes? Security issues? There seems to be a big lack clarity by the developer.
Are there bug fixes? Privacy changes? Security issues? There seems to be a big lack clarity by the developer.
amazing
I love this app, it is really useful for identifying organisms around where I live!
The numerous updates keep improving it and making it better.
The numerous updates keep improving it and making it better.
Best app ever!
iNaturalist is the best there is. It’s free, It’s easy to learn, and once you get going you notice all the different options, like the search menu, and the AI. Please try this app because it’s important to learn about nature, and have fun doing it!
INaturalist now says mushrooms are paw paws
Title says it all. The AI model is garbage now.
What model is INaturalist using? Any disclosure here?
The dev replies saying “we’ve always used machine learning is really really poor argument for the slop AI you are using NOW. It has gotten so terrible. The UI is a nightmare & there IS NOT a way to switch to the older amazing version of iNat in the settings as the devs state here. Constant overload of email notifications, but when you open the app you don’t see ANY of them. What have you done to this app? Is this what the big google money brought to iNat? & you ask for donations?!? Fix this app first. Once loved iNat when it was reliable & useful, it is not anymore
What model is INaturalist using? Any disclosure here?
The dev replies saying “we’ve always used machine learning is really really poor argument for the slop AI you are using NOW. It has gotten so terrible. The UI is a nightmare & there IS NOT a way to switch to the older amazing version of iNat in the settings as the devs state here. Constant overload of email notifications, but when you open the app you don’t see ANY of them. What have you done to this app? Is this what the big google money brought to iNat? & you ask for donations?!? Fix this app first. Once loved iNat when it was reliable & useful, it is not anymore
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Goat
This is cool because I can see many species of animals and flowers plants and things I’ve never seen.
Best App
Unlike other apps it is free with no adds. No gen ai slop included while also using very nice photography to help you with identification.
Might be the coolest app I’ve ever found
This app is awesome, super accurate and you can even see discoveries around your area dating back years ago
Great but…
I see an error that is hard to understand and no way to report it. Purslane genus Wikipedia summary provides a number range that is wrong if you click on the Wikipedia article. It seems weird to have two different numbers and I can’t report it. Wikipedia has sources that are easier to find.
Спасибо за приложение!
И спасибо подкасту Сперва роди, за то что рассказали про него.
Creates confirmation bias
I recently switched to an iPhone and I'm shocked to find that this app lacks the Compare feature. That feature is critical to avoiding confirmation bias in the Computer Vision model and helping users learn to find distinguishing characteristics. That's why I always preferred iNaturalist over Seek. We should not thoughtlessly feed photos to an AI. We are here to learn with help from the CV model. I'm very disappointed that neither iOS version of the iNaturalist app lives up to the Android version.
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10/10
literally a godsend in its category!
Impossible
Impossible to create a password that is acceptable, even when following the rules. Tried all lengths and combinations and every one was denied. (Again, I followed the rules) And don’t try to system generate a strong one. No way will that work. Will have to find another app
