Pinterest has quietly updated its privacy policy, revealing it will use user data and images to train its artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This change has raised concerns among users and content creators about the impact on platform content.
Policy Update and AI Training
The updated clause, published on Pinterest’s website, states the company will use user information to “train, develop and improve our technology such as our machine learning models, regardless of when Pins were posted.” This means any content, spanning the platform’s history since its launch in 2010, is potentially being used to feed AI models. Pinterest’s stated goal is to “improve the products and services of our family of companies and offer new features.” The platform already boasts AI-powered features, such as a search-by-body-type tool and an AI-driven ad suite.
The company is also developing a text-to-image AI model called Pinterest Canvas, designed to enhance existing images and products on the platform. While Pinterest emphasizes an opt-out option for AI training and excludes data from minor users, the policy change places the platform alongside other tech giants like Meta, Reddit, and Google that utilize user data for AI development.
Response and User Reactions
When asked about the update, a Pinterest spokesperson initially downplayed the changes, stating the update merely codified pre-existing practices. The company later clarified via email, stating, “Nothing has changed about our use of user data to train Pinterest Canvas, our GenAI model.” The company also noted users could opt out by adjusting their profile settings.
This update follows growing concerns about the impact of AI-generated content on Pinterest. As noted in a previous report, search results are increasingly flooded with AI-generated content, often linking to websites created for ad revenue.
User reactions in the r/Pinterest subreddit have been critical. One user commented, “And here I was hoping someday there’d be something done to slow the waves of AI slop on the site.” Others expressed frustration with the opt-in nature of the AI data collection. “I saw that it was automatic opt in,” another commenter said. “I hate that so many platforms are doing that! It’s so underhanded. It should’ve been the user’s choice to check that, not theirs.”
Pinterest’s Response and Future Plans
In response to concerns, Pinterest has stated that AI-generated material constitutes only a small portion of its content library. The company has also said it is introducing tools to label AI-generated content, a claim reiterated in a new section of its Help Center. The webpage states, “We’re thoughtfully exploring Generative AI (or GenAI) technology that drives innovation and creativity.” The platform is also exploring ways to better identify AI-generated content in the future through additional technologies. The labeling feature, however, will only be visible if a user taps on a pin for a closer look, raising questions about its effectiveness.
