Twitch lets streamers opt out of Amazon AI training; setting buried in Security and Privacy, toggling off won't affect captions or safety tools

Twitch has rolled out a new feature allowing streamers to opt out of their content being used to train Amazon's generative AI models. This setting, which is enabled by default, can be found under Security and Privacy in the account settings.¹

The description of the setting states, "Allow your channel content to train generative AI content models at Amazon," indicating that creators' content could be utilized for future AI model improvements. For instance, allowing training could enhance speech-to-text models, improving captions not only on Twitch but across Amazon's platforms.⁴

During a recent livestream, Twitch's chief product officer, Mike Minton, addressed concerns regarding the default setting. He candidly remarked, “If it was opt-in, nobody would opt-in. Um, that’s honestly the answer.” This admission highlights the platform's strategy to maximize participation in AI training.

Despite the backlash, Twitch reassured users that toggling off this setting will not affect AI-supported features on their channels, such as captions and safety tools. The option to opt out is somewhat hidden, requiring users to navigate through their profile settings to find it.³

As the use of AI continues to grow, Twitch's decision reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where user-generated content is increasingly leveraged for machine learning advancements.