Hajra Naz
On Monday, YouTube introduced a new feature that allows creators more control over how third-party companies use their content to train artificial intelligence models. Starting today, creators and content rights holders will be able to specify if they want to permit certain AI companies to use their videos for training purposes.
How Creators Can Opt In
From within the YouTube Studio dashboard, creators will find a new setting that allows them to opt into the AI training feature. In this section, creators will be presented with a list of 18 companies that they can select from to authorize the use of their content for training AI models.
List of Authorized Companies
The initial list of companies includes big names such as;
- AI21 Labs
- Adobe
- Amazon
- Apple
- Microsoft
- OpenAI
- Meta
These companies are actively building generative AI models and partners creators that’s why they are choosen. Creators can also choose to authorize “All third-party companies,” permitting any third party to use their content for AI training.
Eligibility and Ongoing Control
Creators with access to YouTube’s Content Manager with an administrator role will be eligible to use this feature. They can change their third-party training preferences anytime through the YouTube Channel settings.
Addressing AI Training Concerns
The introduction of this feature follows complaints from YouTube creators about companies like Apple, OpenAI, and Google training their AI models on YouTube content without consent or compensation. This new setting aims to give creators control over their content and the ability to allow or deny third parties from using it for AI purposes.
Google’s AI Training Exemption
While this setting controls access by third parties, YouTube clarified that Google will continue to train its AI models using some YouTube content in line with its existing agreements with creators. The new setting does not change YouTube’s Terms of Service, which prohibit unauthorized access to creator content, such as scraping.
Future Steps for Creator Compensation
YouTube views this feature as an initial step in giving creators more control. In the future, the platform may allow companies that creators authorize to directly download their videos for AI training. This feature also serves as a clear message to companies that have previously used content without consent.
Impact on Retroactive AI Model Training
YouTube has not confirmed whether the new setting will have any retroactive impact on AI models that have already been trained using creator content. However, the company emphasizes that its Terms of Service prohibit third parties from accessing content without proper authorization.
Introducing AI Detection Tools
YouTube has also added new AI detection tools to protect creators from having their faces and voices copied and used in AI-made videos. These tools will work with YouTube’s existing Content ID system, which already helps protect copyright content.
Read More: 6 YouTube Channel Growth Tools that You Didn’t Know
Notifications for Creators
Creators will get notifications about this new feature in YouTube Studio on desktop and mobile devices. These notifications will be rolled out over the next few days.
This feature marks a significant shift in how creators can manage their content in the age of AI. It allows them to decide how their videos are used and potentially be compensated for training purposes.
