2 min read
The significance of user-generated content has never been higher, and it’s not only because it sits alongside AI-generated content on the internet. The use of user-generated content on social media sites like Reddit, YouTube, and others to train artificial intelligence models has been a point of debate for the past few years. As an example, YouTube recently gave content creators greater control over how their videos are used in AI training, demonstrating that these major platforms are catching up.
YouTube Empowers Creators with AI Training Control
Although Google’s Gemini AI is happy to summarise YouTube videos, creators are nonetheless worried that their hard work will be used to train AI models without them getting proper rewards. But YouTube is steadily making up, so maybe it will have a good year-end. As reported by TechCrunch, the firm has recently implemented a feature that allows creators to choose whether their videos can be utilized by third parties for artificial intelligence training, carrying out plans that were first announced in 2024.
A new feature in Studio Settings, titled Third-party training, will be available to YouTube uploaders in the near future in Creator Studio. In this case, the makers and owners of the rights can decide whether to let third parties use their videos for AI training. Content ID might also be used by YouTube to include owners. The feature also comes with comprehensive documentation to help you out.
YouTube’s New Era of Complexity
The new Creator Studio feature allows creators to control which third parties can access their content for specific purposes. However, YouTube’s announcement highlights certain limitations. While addressing third-party AI training, there is no mention of first-party AI use, suggesting that Google may continue utilizing YouTube’s extensive video library for its AI products, like Gemini, while restricting competitor access.
YouTube frequently emphasizes that scraping videos is unethical and prohibited. Yet, the open nature of its APIs makes it challenging to prevent determined individuals from accessing the platform’s content. A simple toggle for managing permissions might not be sufficient to protect valuable creator content.
As AI development remains largely unregulated, ensuring ethical and sustainable practices falls to tech companies until legislation catches up. These companies need to uphold their commitments and prioritize responsible AI advancements.
