Mary Kish, Twitch’s head of community, recently guided viewers through a tutorial on how to opt-out of generative AI training during a livestream session. This feature allows users to control whether their channel content can be utilized for AI training by Amazon.
To disable this setting, users must navigate to the Settings tab within their Streamer Dashboard, select Security and Privacy, then scroll down to find the option labeled “training for Generative AI” and toggle it off. By doing so, they can prevent Amazon from using their streams, clips, images, chats, and other materials for AI development.
However, some users have reported that even after successfully toggling the feature off, they returned to find it re-enabled. One commented, “I turned the switch off, exited, and when I checked again, it was back on.”
Data collection for AI training has become mainstream in the tech industry, Kish acknowledged, stating, “We don’t expect you to be happy or excited about this. I don’t expect anyone to react to this favorably.” This sentiment was echoed in the comments section of the livestream, where numerous users expressed their dissatisfaction with the move.
One viewer remarked, “Nobody would opt in because nobody wants to feed AI with our creativity and content.” Another pointed out that this situation presented an opportunity for Twitch to lead the charge against invasive data collection practices within the industry.
While it remains unclear when Amazon started gathering Twitch user data for AI training, Minton stated during the stream that he could not confirm whether any user data had already been harvested for this purpose. He also expressed uncertainty about what methods Amazon had employed in terms of model training.
Since acquiring Twitch for nearly $1 billion in 2014, Amazon has invested heavily in AI technology, striving to compete with major players like Google and Meta.
Editor’s Take
This development is significant as it highlights the growing tension between user privacy and the tech industry’s relentless push toward AI advancements. For users, the inability to maintain control over their creative content raises serious concerns about data rights. Businesses and developers must navigate these complexities, balancing innovation with ethical data use to foster trust in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
