Facebook is starting to feed its AI with private, unpublished photos
For years, Meta's trained its AI programs using the billions of public images uploaded by users onto Facebook and Instagram's servers. But apparently, Meta has decided to try training its AI on the billions of images that users haven't uploaded to those servers.
On Friday, TechCrunch reported that Facebook users trying to post something on the Story feature have encountered pop-up messages asking if they'd like to opt into 'cloud processing', which would allow Facebook to 'select media from your camera roll and upload it to our cloud on a regular basis', to generate 'ideas like collages, recaps, AI restyling or themes like birthdays or graduations.'
By allowing this feature, the message continues, users are agreeing to Meta AI terms, which allows their AI to analyze 'media and facial features' of those unpublished photos, as well as the date said photos were taken, and the presence of other people or objects in them. You further grant Meta the right to 'retain and use' that personal information.
Meta recently acknowledged that it's scraped the data from all the content that's been published on Facebook and Instagram since 2007 to train its generative AI models. Though the company stated that it's only used public posts uploaded from adult users over the age of 18, it has long been vague about exactly what 'public' entails, as well as what counted as an 'adult user' in 2007.
Unlike Google, which explicitly states that it does not train generative AI models with personal data gleaned from Google Photos, Meta's current AI usage terms, which have been in place since June 23, 2024, do not provide any clarity as to whether unpublished photos accessed through 'cloud processing' are exempt from being used as training data. Meta did not return TechCrunch's request for comment; The Verge has reached out for comment as well.
Thankfully, Facebook users do have an option to turn off camera roll cloud processing in their settings, which, once activated, will also start removing unpublished photos from the cloud after 30 days. But the workaround, disguised as a feature, suggest a new incursion into our private data, one that bypasses the point of friction known as conscientiously deciding to post a photo for public consumption. And according to Reddit posts found by TechCrunch, Meta's already offering AI restyling suggestions on previously-uploaded photos, even if users hadn't been aware of the feature: one user reported that Facebook had Studio Ghiblified her wedding photos without her knowledge.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
42 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Stock Market News Review: SPY, QQQ Resilient as U.S.-Canada Trade Talks End, Inflation Rises
Both the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) secured new intraday all-time highs on Friday, although some of the gains were erased after President Trump said that the U.S. had terminated its trade talks with Canada. Confident Investing Starts Here: Following Canada's decision to proceed with its digital services tax on U.S. technology companies, Trump announced a halt to all U.S.-Canada trade discussions. The tax charges a 3% fee on all U.S. tech revenue above C$20 million, or about $14.6 million, collected from Canadian users. 'We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period,' said Trump on Truth Social. Trump also said that the U.S. would no longer consider removing sanctions on Iran following a speech from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei downplayed the damage of the U.S. strikes on three of Iran's nuclear sites and said that the country had delivered a 'slap to America's face.' Meanwhile, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation, showed a monthly rise of 0.2% and a yearly rise of 2.7%. Economists were expecting growth of 0.1% and 2.6%, respectively. Furthermore, April's core PCE was revised upward to 2.6% from 2.5%. Core PCE excludes food and energy prices from the regular PCE index given their volatility. Shifting gears to more optimistic news, Trump is preparing executive orders to support AI development, according to Reuters. The orders could include green-lighting the construction of AI data centers on federal land and easier grid access for new energy projects, said sources close to the matter. What's more, consumer sentiment could be in the early stages of a recovery. The June Index of Consumer Sentiment rose by 16% month-over-month to 60.7, reversing six consecutive months of declines. Economists were expecting 60.5, with a higher figure representing a more positive economic outlook. At the same time, fears over tariff-driven inflation and economic uncertainty still persist. 'Despite June's gains, however, sentiment remains about 18% below December 2024, right after the election; consumer views are still broadly consistent with an economic slowdown and an increase in inflation to come,' said Survey of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ford CEO Jim Farley says Waymo's approach to self-driving makes more sense than Tesla's
Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed skepticism about the technological approach to self-driving cars being pursued by Tesla, citing consumer 'trust' and the need to 'be really careful' as reasons why Ford sees more potential in systems based on laser sensors like those in Waymo vehicles. The comments are the latest indication of the auto industry's resistance to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's vision of less expensive self-driving vehicles that use only video cameras and artificial intelligence — a bet Musk believes will ultimately pay off and prompt other automakers to license Tesla's technology. But Ford, the number three automaker in the U.S., which plans to work with partners to incorporate self-driving technology into its future vehicles, does not seem likely to license Tesla's tech anytime soon, based on Farley's comments on Friday. 'When you have a brand like Ford, when there's a new technology, you have to be really careful,' Farley said at the Aspen Ideas Festival on Friday. 'We really believe that LiDAR is mission critical,' Farley said, referring to the laser sensors used by companies like Waymo. Farley was being interviewed by Walter Isaacson, who published a biography on Elon Musk in 2023. When their conversation turned to autonomy, Isaacson asked Farley to compare both Waymo and Tesla's systems, and he asked which approach made more sense. 'To us, Waymo,' Farley said. He pointed out that both Waymo, owned by Google-parent Alphabet, and Tesla 'have made a lot of progress' on self-driving, and Farley acknowledged that he has had conversations with Elon Musk. But he stated that Ford considered LiDAR to be an important part of the picture, noting that 'where the camera will be completely blinded, the LiDAR system will see exactly what's in front of you.' Tesla, which recently launched its robotaxi service in Austin—with safety riders in the front seat—has famously taken a 'camera-only' approach to its autonomous technology, meaning that it doesn't use radar or LiDAR technology to 'see' the environment around the car. This approach has drawn scrutiny across the industry from people who question whether it is as safe without the redundancies, even as Musk argues that it's more economical and performs just as well 'The issue with Waymo's cars is it costs way more money,' Musk said during Tesla's quarterly earnings call in April. 'The car is very expensive, made in low volume. Teslas probably cost 25% or 20% of what a Waymo costs and made in very high volume.' Ford has said it plans to partner with a self-driving software company once the technology is farther along. While the company had spent $1 billion pursuing its own joint venture with Volkswagen, called Argo AI, Ford stopped funding the effort in 2022 and decided to pursue a partnership model. In the meantime, the company has shifted attention to its 'BlueCruise' technology, a so-called Level 2 self-driving system that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on the highway but requires full attention. Ford is still working on developing a more advanced system, which will allow drivers to not pay attention during certain times on the highway—but it has said it no longer has intentions to build a fully autonomous, Level 4 system, only plans to partner with other companies who have. 'We decided, as a company, that a cooler problem than full autonomy in an urban setting was high speed, eyes off. Push a button and read a book in your car,' Farley said. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nvidia (NVDA) Climbs for Fifth Straight Session, Reclaims Top Market Cap Spot
Nvidia (NVDA, Financials) rose for a fifth straight session Friday, pushing its market value to $3.8 trillion and reclaiming its spot as the most valuable public company. The stock has climbed 66% since April lows, fueled by strong demand for AI chips. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NVDA. CEO Jensen Huang warned that U.S. export rules effectively shut Nvidia out of China's $50 billion market, saying recent results would have been stronger with access. At the company's shareholder meeting Wednesday, Huang called robotics Nvidia's next big opportunity, citing a future of billions of robots powered by its chips. The segment, including automotive, generated $567 million last quarter. Wedbush's Dan Ives projected Nvidia and Microsoft (MSFT, Financials) could hit $4 trillion in value this summer and $5 trillion in 18 months. Investors are watching for updates on China policy and Nvidia's earnings guidance. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
