Users of Facebook and Instagram received notices this week that unless they opt out, their publicly available content, such as pictures and posts, will be used by Meta to train its AI (artificial intelligence) programmes.
So what does Mark Zuckerberg’s company want with your photos of the cat, family gathering or recent holiday? And why does it want your carefully crafted captions? It’s a big win for Meta, but what’s in it for you?
For an AI programme to work it has to be well trained. That means it has to “learn” from the public it hopes to serve. It has to speak the same language, recognise the same imagery, understand the same references. For Meta how it will do that is by “learning” from real Facebook and Instagram posts.
Irish Times technology journalist Ciara O’Brien got the notices this week – and she explains why she went into her settings and said a firm “no”.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
