Hashim explained that Zoom's use of customer content is solely for the purpose of improving its own services. She also emphasized that even if users choose to share their data, it will not be used for training third-party models. This clarification comes amid concerns about the potential misuse of proprietary information and the privacy of video sessions. The company has faced criticism for the ambiguity of its terms and conditions, which took four months to surface.
Key takeaways:
- Zoom updated its terms and conditions on March 31, 2023, including a clause that arguably gave it the right to use customer content for machine learning and artificial intelligence.
- There was a delayed backlash to this change, with users concerned that their video chats could be used to train Zoom's AI without their consent.
- Zoom's chief product officer, Smita Hashim, clarified that the company never intended to give the impression it would use user's video chats for AI without their consent, and that the terms have been updated to confirm this.
- Hashim also explained that Zoom uses generative AI for beneficial purposes, such as summarizing meetings if users request it, and that shared data will not be used for training any third-party models.