Apple’s recent introduction of an AI training tool has sparked backlash across the media industry. The tool, known as Applebot-Extended, allows publishers to exclude their data from being used in AI model training. However, the decision has led to a growing backlash, with major news organizations, including The New York Times, The Financial Times, and Vox Media, opting out, Wired reported.
Apple AI Training Backlash Grows
Apple’s rollout of Applebot-Extended is designed to respect publishers’ rights. It allows them to block their content from being used in AI training. However, the tool has not been met with the enthusiasm Apple may have anticipated.
Introduced less than three months ago, it responds to growing concerns over intellectual property. It also addresses the use of online content for AI development. Despite this, many prominent media outlets have decided to block Apple’s AI training bot. They cite concerns over protecting their content.
Applebot is an extension of Apple’s existing web-crawling bot, Applebot, which has been in use since 2015. Initially, Applebot crawled the internet to enhance Apple’s search products like Siri and Spotlight. However, its role has expanded to include data collection for AI training. The backlash has led many publishers to update their robots.txt files, a tool used to control how bots interact with their websites, to exclude Applebot-Extended.
Why Media Outlets Are Opting Out
The decision by major media organizations to block Applebot-Extended underscores a broader conflict over the future of AI and content ownership. While Apple touts the tool as a way to give publishers control over their data, many media companies are skeptical. They argue that allowing Apple to use its content for AI training could undermine the value of its intellectual property and erode its control over how its content is used.
Several publishers have already blocked other AI training bots, such as those from OpenAI and Anthropic, signaling a growing trend in the industry. The refusal to participate in Apple’s AI training underscores a fundamental concern: the fear that AI could replicate and redistribute its content without appropriate compensation or credit. The backlash against Applebot-Extended is part of a larger battle over the control and monetization of online content in the AI age.
Apple Responds to the Backlash
Apple defends Applebot-Extended, saying it protects publishers’ rights and offers an easy opt-out. An Apple spokesperson clarified that the tool only stops data from being used in AI training, not the original crawling.
Despite Apple’s assurances, the backlash continues. Media organizations are concerned about how tech companies use their content for AI. These concerns are valid, as AI models can create content that closely resembles the original work.
Apple’s tools may be a step forward, but the media industry wants more. The future of AI and content ownership is uncertain, and publishers are fighting to maintain control over their assets.
2024-08-30 15:08:27