AI companies have already scraped much of the public internet to train their models. Now Amazon is turning to Twitch streamers.<\/p>\n
Twitch announced Wednesday that it is adding a new account setting that allows users to opt out of having content from their channels used to train parent company Amazon\u2019s generative AI models. The catch is the the setting is turned on by default.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerative AI content models are AI tools that can help create or synthesize content outputs like text or images when given instructions or prompts because they are also trained on content,\u201d the company wrote in a support page<\/a> about the setting. \u201cWhen you allow training, that means that your content may be used for future Gen AI model improvements.\u201d<\/p>\n Twitch says that content can include streams, VODs, clips, stream chats, and any images and text posted to a user\u2019s channel.<\/p>\n For example, the company says that users\u2019 audio could be used to improve models that turn speech into text and potentially improve captions on Twitch and elsewhere on Amazon.\u00a0The page also points out that opting out does not shut off every use of AI on Twitch. The platform can still use AI-powered features like AutoMod and caption generation, though Twitch says content used for those features will not be retained to train AI models.<\/p>\n Backlash quickly follows announcement <\/p>\n The decision to make the new setting opt-out rather than opt-in quickly drew backlash, as a post<\/a> from Twitch announcing the change on X was bombarded with complaints from users.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should be opt in by default you\u2019re banking on people forgetting about it to train the AI,\u201d wrote<\/a> one user.<\/p>\n \u201cOn by default is malicious of you, constantly disappointed with these decisions that go against the wishes of the community,\u201d wrote<\/a> another.<\/p>\n Twitch appears to have anticipated that reaction. The company hosted a livestream<\/a> Wednesday to discuss the topic, where Chief Product Officer Mike Minton directly addressed why users were enrolled by default:\u00a0\u201cIf this was opt-in, nobody would opt in. That\u2019s honestly the answer,\u201d said Minton.<\/p>\n Still, exactly how long Amazon has been using Twitch content for AI training remains a bit murky.<\/p>\n