Twitch Introduces Opt-Out for Amazon Generative AI Training

Twitch has implemented a new account setting that allows streamers to opt out of having their content used to train generative AI models owned by parent company Amazon. According to reporting from Engadget and The Verge, the "Training for Generative AI" toggle is located within the Security and Privacy tab of the platform's settings.

If a creator chooses to opt out, Amazon will no longer use that channel's streams, on-demand versions (VODs), clips, stream chats, images, or text for future training of models designed to synthesize or generate video, audio, images, or text. However, Twitch notes that this does not opt users out of other AI-powered features. As reported by The Verge, Amazon may still use channel content for viewer discovery recommendations, real-time sponsorship campaign assistance for monetization, and automated captions.

Twitch further specifies that certain AI functions, such as the AutoMod tool, are necessary for community safety and security and therefore cannot be disabled on an individual basis. Engadget reports that Twitch states the AutoMod tool does not retain user data to generate material.

One significant caveat regarding user privacy involves community interaction. Both The Verge and Engadget report that if a user participates in a chat on another streamer's channel, the opt-out preferences of that specific streamer determine whether the chat content is used for AI training.