Twitch adds opt-out for using streamers’ content to train Amazon AI

In short: Twitch added a new setting that lets streamers opt out of having their content used to help train Amazon’s AI.

What happened

Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, updated its account settings to include a “Generative AI Training” option. If a streamer turns this off, Twitch says their channel content will not be used to train Amazon’s generative AI models, which are systems that learn patterns from large amounts of data (like studying many books to learn how to write).

The opt-out is available in Twitch settings under Security and Privacy. Creators can switch it off on the website or in the mobile app.

However, Twitch also says that disabling the option does not stop Twitch and Amazon from using a channel’s content for other purposes described in its privacy notice. Twitch lists examples such as recommendations that help viewers discover channels, tools that support sponsorship campaigns, and moderation tools like AutoMod.

The change sparked new questions from creators about what was happening before this setting appeared. More than 16,000 creators opposed having AI training enabled by default in a Twitch feedback forum. Twitch leaders also acknowledged that the default matters, with Twitch’s head of product saying that if it were off by default, “no one would participate.”

Why it matters

For streamers, this is about control over their work. If your videos and clips can help train AI, it could affect where your content shows up and how it is reused later. For everyone else, it is another example of how “free” online services often use what people post as a resource, and the rules can change quietly unless users check their settings.

Source: Wired