The 404 Media Podcast AI Companies Are Opting You In By Default
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Oct 2, 2024 
Join Sam, a data privacy commentator, and Joseph, a tech industry expert, as they unpack the recent trend of companies like Udemy, PayPal, and LinkedIn opting users into data collection without consent. They dive into Udemy's controversial AI policies and discuss PayPal's lack of transparency regarding user data sharing. The conversation takes a darker turn as Sam recounts the unsettling experience of a woman trapped in a driverless Waymo, raising significant concerns about safety and autonomy in an AI-driven world.
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Instructor Concerns on Udemy
- Udemy instructors worry AI-generated courses will compete with human-taught ones.
- The platform incentivizes instructors to remain opted-in by suggesting they might lose visibility if they opt out.
Udemy's Opt-Out Window
- Udemy instructors were given a three-week window (August 21st to September 12th) to opt out of AI data training.
- Missing this window meant instructors couldn't opt out again until the following year.
Udemy's Reasoning for Opt-Out Windows
- Udemy claims retraining AI models constantly is too resource-intensive, justifying the opt-out window.
- This raises concerns about data deletion practices across other platforms using user data for AI training.