A new conversational robot?
The Meta AI bot integrated into the company’s platforms – Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – can be used to perform searches and answer questions. A promotional page shows that it is possible to ask for recipes, generate images or create lists of popular songs to play on the guitar.
But it also has some users wondering how Meta’s AI systems use their data and what, if anything, they can do to evade this new feature.
Where does Meta get the information with which it trains its AI models?
Meta doesn’t list all the sources that train its AI models, but its privacy center says it uses information that is publicly available online or licensed. It also says that Meta uses information shared through its products and services, such as messages, photos and their captions.
What data does Meta claim not to use to train its AI models?
Meta’s Privacy Center explains that the company does not use private messages exchanged between users to train its AI systems. If Meta’s AI systems use public information collected from the internet or with permission from other providers, it does not link this data to accounts. For example, if it uses a public blog post containing an author’s name and contact information, the company ensures that it does not subsequently link this content to the user’s Meta account. The company also says it did not train its core models – Llama 2, Llama 3 – on user data.
If I don’t use Meta’s social media, can the company still train its AI systems on my data?
It’s possible. “Even if you do not use our products and services or do not have an account, we may process information about you in order to develop and improve AI at Meta,” says the Privacy Center. ‘business. “For example, this may happen if you appear anywhere in an image shared on our products or services by someone who uses them or if someone mentions information about you in posts or captions that they share about our products and services. »
Can you refuse to let Meta use your data?
Meta has a form available in its Privacy Center titled “Rights of Data Subjects of Third-Party Information Used for AI at Meta.” Users can fill out the form and select “I would like to delete any personal information from third parties used to build and improve the AI at Meta.” » The giant says it does not automatically respond to requests sent using this form, but that it reviews them to see if they comply with local laws that could require it to delete your data from its AI training .
How successful is this process for Canadians?
A Meta spokesperson, David Troya-Alvarez, was unable to say how many Canadians had successfully unsubscribed so far.
Besides the opt-out form, is there anything you can do to limit Meta’s ability to use your data to train its AI?
Brett Caraway, a professor of media economics, believes that users may consider not using the platform at all, but he is aware that many people need the company’s technology for their work or interpersonal communication. “If you don’t want to or can’t do that, I tend to think you have to think carefully about what you post,” says Mr. Caraway, who has stopped using Facebook but maintains a inactive account. Rather than satisfying the urge to immediately post information on the platform, he recommends that people step away from their device and ask themselves if it is really necessary for this information to be posted on the platform and if they are ready for the company to eventually use them.
Can I disable the Meta AI tool I see in my searches on Facebook and Instagram?
According to a Meta spokesperson, David Troya-Alvarez, “you cannot deactivate [Meta AI], but you can search as you normally would to get a variety of results. » Although it is impossible to turn off the feature, it is possible to mute it by tapping the blue Meta AI circle in your Facebook or Instagram search bar, then tapping the blue circle with a i inside. A button mute in the menu that appears next allows you to silence the robot.
Does Meta record information about conversations I have had with its AI tool?
Yes. According to its Privacy Center, Meta logs the messages you send it, the AI’s responses, and details about you so it can “continue the conversation.” “For example, if you tell the AI that you like Italian food, it will record that detail. So if you later ask what restaurants you might enjoy in New York, the AI should recommend Italian restaurants. »
How can I see what information Meta has about me from conversations I’ve had with its Meta AI tool?
Type “/saved-details” into your Meta AI chat window or visit your account center while logged in to Instagram and Facebook. To download the information to WhatsApp, you can also type “/download-all-ai-info” in a conversation with your AI.
How to delete this information?
Type “/reset-ai” in individual conversations you’ve had with Meta AI in Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp. By doing this, Meta explains that you are essentially resetting the AI because the maneuver removes its copy of your messages and the previous context of the conversation. “You will still see your copy of the conversation with the AI, but it will not remember previous messages,” explains the company.