In September 2024, LinkedIn started using your data to train its artificial intelligence (AI). LinkedIn’s AI is a large language model (LLM) designed to recognize patterns and connections within data. LinkedIn’s generative AI is trained on huge sets of data. The data is often scraped from publicly available Internet resources. Think news articles, academic research, government reports and public information, for example. It need the data to learn how to improve grammar, vocabulary, and context. The more diverse and higher-quality data it collects, the better its predictions and accuracy.
To improve its bot, LinkedIn collects data when you interact with its generative AI, whether composing a post, changing your preferences, or providing feedback. LinkedIn also gathers data when you engage with other people’s posts on LinkedIn. The artificial intelligence training option is turned ‘on’ by default.
Fortunately, LinkedIn added an opt-out option for the LLM training. Otherwise, beginning November 20, it would start using your data for AI training. According to LinkedIn’s FAQ page,
“opting out means that LinkedIn and its affiliates will not use your personal data or content on LinkedIn to train models going forward, but it does not affect training that has already taken place.”
Microsoft owns LinkedIn, which means that LinkedIn “affiliates” refer to companies owned by Microsoft. Microsoft has a stake in 289 companies, including five artificial intelligence firms. Therefore, based on LinkedIn’s FAQ statement, LinkedIn’s LLM and its 289 affiliates use your data.
One of the primary concerns about LinkedIn using your data for AI training is the potential invasion of your privacy. These models often produce outputs based on the data provided during training. A generative artificial intelligence model will show you rehashed or repurposed versions of its training data as output. Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, told Technopedia,
“It’s likely that elements of your writing, photos, or videos will be merged with other people’s content to build AI outputs.”
Stop LinkedIn from using your data to train its AI
To stop LinkedIn from using your data to train its AI models, follow these steps:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture in the header menu.
- Click the “Me” option in the top bar
- Choose “Settings & Privacy.”
5. Next, select “Data Privacy” from the left sidebar and click on “Data for Generative AI Improvement” on the right.
6. Under the “How LinkedIn uses your data” section, look for the “Data for Generative AI Improvement” option.
7. Toggle the setting to “Off.”
These steps prevent LinkedIn from using your data for future artificial intelligence training.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT for a while and has blogged from the Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that has caught my attention since 2005. You can follow me on Facebook or Mastodon. Email the Bach Seat here.