Twitch, the popular gaming and IRL streaming platform, has stirred controversy by announcing that it will start training generative AI models using content from livestreams. This decision has been met with considerable pushback from the community of streamers and their audiences, who are concerned about the implications of such technology.

One of the most vocal demands from users on the Twitch uservoice page is for these AI features to be optional. Many streamers are questioning why this feature is set to be enabled by default, requiring users to manually opt out if they do not wish to participate in AI training.

In response to the uproar, Twitch's chief product officer Mike Minton and head of community Mary Kish held a live Q&A session to address community concerns. During the stream, Minton was asked why the AI training feature was not opt-in, to which he candidly replied that if it were, “nobody would opt in.” He explained that the decision to make it opt-out was based on the belief that most users would not choose to participate voluntarily.

Despite Minton's straightforward approach, the community's frustration remains palpable. Many users feel that the company is disregarding their preferences, with some expressing their dissatisfaction on social media. Minton acknowledged that the decision was not popular and that it was upsetting to many within the community.

This move appears to be part of a broader trend within Amazon, Twitch's parent company, which has shown a strong interest in generative AI technologies. This strategy has affected other divisions within Amazon as well, including the cancellation of a generative AI game project by Amazon Game Studios amidst significant layoffs.

The future of Twitch's generative AI training remains uncertain. Whether the platform will heed community demands to alter its approach and make the feature opt-in instead of opt-out will likely depend on ongoing feedback from users and potential pressure from competitors in the livestreaming space.