X (Twitter) locks down data, no more free AI training from tweets

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X (Twitter) has updated its developer agreement to stop outside developers from using its content to train AI systems. 

The new rule, added under the “Restrictions on Use” section, clearly states that developers are not allowed to use X’s data or API to “fine-tune or train a foundation or frontier model,” in simple terms, any powerful AI system.

This update is likely aimed at protecting X’s valuable data from being used for free by other AI companies. 

It also opens the door for X to make its own AI data licensing deals, like the one Reddit recently made with Google, where Reddit got paid for access to its content. 

Interestingly, Reddit just filed a lawsuit against AI company Anthropic, accusing it of accessing Reddit data over 100,000 times without permission.

The timing of X’s policy change also makes sense because Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, officially acquired X in March in a $33 billion deal, at least on paper. 

Since xAI is building its own AI tools, including a chatbot called Grok, it would be in Musk’s interest to block competitors from using X’s data freely.

Even though developers can’t use X content to train AI anymore, there’s still a loophole. 

According to X’s privacy policy, third-party “collaborators” can still train AI models using X’s data, unless users specifically opt out. 

In other words, X is keeping the door open for hand-picked partners or future business deals involving AI training.

Major platforms are tightening control over their data as AI companies race to collect text and conversations to train smarter models. 

Reddit, The Browser Company, and others have made similar changes to block unauthorized AI use.

X is now telling outside developers: if you want to use our data to train your AI, you’ll need to get permission, and probably pay for it.

What do you think about this change to Twitter’s terms? Do you think it’s unnecessary? Let’s hear your thoughts below in the comments, or reach out to us via our Twitter or Facebook.