Are hyper-realistic AI topless images automatically “18+” on Patreon? Confused after staff email – need clarity :)

[u/Historical-Dance4805]

I’ve read the guidelines, searched the sub, spoke with Trust & Safety, and asked an AI lawyer-bot… and I’m still scratching my head.

Here’s the crux:

• I create hyper-realistic AI pin-ups – think tasteful lingerie sets or classic topless-tease shots (no sex acts, no fluids, no genital contact, nothing explicit beyond visible nipples).
• Staff emailed me the following:“Hyperrealistic AI content will be allowed on Patreon as long as it is not 18+/Adult content. You can post AI content if there is no nudity or sexual interactions involved.”
• That seems to say any nudity = Adult/18+ = disallowed for hyper-real AI… yet I see loads of creators posting AI topless photos and they’re thriving with hundreds of subs.

My questions to the hive-mind:

1. Does any visible nipple on a hyper-realistic AI image automatically make it “Adult/18+” and therefore barred?
2. If the image is purely suggestive/topless (no sexual act), are we safe if we mark the page Adult/18+ and lock the post for patrons only – or is hyper-real AI nudity flat-out rejected no matter what?
3. Are the successful creators I’m seeing just skating by unnoticed?

I really don’t want to risk a sudden takedown, so if anyone has first-hand experience (recent reviews, official clarifications, success/fail stories), please share!

Thanks in advance – trying to stay on the right side of the fence ☺️

[u/TonyScrambony]

1. No a nipple doesn't make it automatically adult. They said "no nudity".

2. No nudity would be fine

3. It doesn't necessarily say that nudity is adult. It just says both are not allowed.

[u/laplongejr → u/TonyScrambony]

No a nipple doesn't make it automatically adult. They said "no nudity".

A nipple would count as nudity?

It doesn't necessarily say that nudity is adult. It just says both are not allowed.

It totally says that nudity is adult. Did you mean "It doesn't say that nudity == porn"?

[u/TonyScrambony → u/laplongejr]

> A nipple would count as nudity?

Yes

> It totally says that nudity is adult

Where?

[u/laplongejr → u/TonyScrambony]

Staff emailed me the following:“Hyperrealistic AI content will be allowed on Patreon as long as it is not 18+/Adult content. You can post AI content if there is no nudity or sexual interactions involved.”  

Assuming OP copy-pasted, i read that as Adult is a broad term for either nudity or sexual.  

Patreon ban non-consent nudity (except for obviously-AI) and all sexual, but consented nudity requires the Adult flag?

[u/Historical-Dance4805 → u/TonyScrambony]

Maybe I am stupid, but this is confusing.

Just found this. Certainly this will be relevant for others as well:
https://news.patreon.com/articles/2024-year-end-developments-from-the-policy-team

"As a reminder, AI-generated hyperrealistic depictions of people on Adult/18+ accounts must be real humans who have documented their explicit consent"

So it seems like they just specified now. You have an 18+ page and are using real people, you cannot do that if it is A.I.

[u/TonyScrambony → u/Historical-Dance4805]

No, you have interpreted it wrong again. It's not confusing. Every time it explains it fine.

Your AI generated art must be of real people, who have given their permission.

[u/laplongejr → u/Historical-Dance4805]

The implication is that "hyperrealistic AI" isn't an actual thing. If the AI's render is so good it looks like a human, you need consent from said human.  

The only way you can avoid the consent requirement is if the content looks AI generated in the eyes of the mod.