Zoom Reverses Course on AI Training Following Backlash, Commits to Not Using Consumer Data

Zoom has finally responded to user concerns by reversing its terms of service related to AI training.

The company has committed to not using consumer data for AI model training following a wave of backlash from users from every social media platform, who raised concerns about privacy and data usage.

Zoom found itself in hot water earlier this week when an update to its terms of service suggested that the platform could use customer data without explicit consent for training AI models.

Tech news blog StackDiary was among the first to spot these bizarre terms and conditions from the video conferencing company. This change ignited a firestorm of criticism, forcing Zoom to rethink its approach.

Public Backlash

According to Insider, several individuals expressed their concerns about Zoom on X. Anthropology professor at Harvard, Gabriella Coleman, shared her thoughts by stating, "Well time to retire @Zoom, who is basically wants to use/abuse you to train their AI."

Video game developer Brianna Wu took a similar stance, addressing Zoom directly, "Dear @Zoom, I pay for your product. I do not want my private meetings to be used to train AI. I am canceling my account today. I will simply use one of your competitors."

Zoom Updates Controversial AI-Training Terms

The company quickly realized the gravity of the situation and responded with a series of updates to its terms of service.

Smita Hashim, Zoom's Chief Product Officer, took to the company blog to address the concerns and outline the changes.

Hashim stated, "Following feedback received regarding Zoom's recently updated terms of service, particularly related to our new generative artificial intelligence features, Zoom has updated our terms of service and the below blog post to make it clear that Zoom does not use any of your audio, video, chat, screen-sharing, attachments, or other communications like customer content to train Zoom's or third-party artificial intelligence models."

The revised terms now unequivocally state that Zoom will not utilize any form of customer communication or content for AI training, putting users' privacy concerns to rest.

Zoom's initial update raised questions about consent. Engadget notes that the previous version mentioned using data "without customer consent," which was a gray area for users participating in meetings where organizers agreed to the terms.

Generative AI Features with User Control

In the blog post mentioned above, Zoom introduced two powerful generative AI features-Zoom IQ Meeting Summary and Zoom IQ Team Chat Compose.

These features offer automated meeting summaries and AI-powered chat composition, respectively. Importantly, account owners and administrators maintain control over enabling these features for their accounts, allowing users to opt into AI-enhanced experiences.

Transparency and Continuous Improvement

Hashim reaffirmed Zoom's commitment to transparency and user empowerment. "We remain committed to transparency, and our aim is to provide you with the tools you need to make informed decisions about your Zoom account," she stated.

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