Image by Szabo Viktor, from Unsplash

YouTube Creators Unknowingly Fuel Google’s AI Models

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Google has confirmed to use a subset of YouTube videos to train its artificial intelligence models, which include Gemini and the advanced Veo 3 video generator.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• Creators were not informed that their videos train AI tools.
• YouTube terms allow Google to license uploaded content globally and royalty-free.
• Experts warn AI could compete with creators without consent or compensation.

The news, first reported by CNBC , has sparked criticism from content creators and intellectual property specialists, who worry about their content being used to develop tools that could eventually replace them.

“We’ve always used YouTube content to make our products better, and this hasn’t changed with the advent of AI,” a YouTube spokesperson said to CNBC.

“We also recognize the need for guardrails, which is why we’ve invested in robust protections that allow creators to protect their image and likeness in the AI era,” the spokesperson added.

CNBC reports that YouTube hosts over 20 billion videos. Google, however, has not revealed the specific number of videos it uses for AI training. The article notes that even a 1% selection from YouTube’s vast catalog would still result in billions of minutes of content, which exceeds the training data of most competing AI platforms.

CNBC spoke with several creators and intellectual property professionals who were unaware their content might be used to train AI. “It’s plausible that they’re taking data from a lot of creators that have spent a lot of time and energy and their own thought to put into these videos,” said Luke Arrigoni, CEO of digital identity company Loti. “That’s not necessarily fair to them,” he added.

“We’ve seen a growing number of creators discover fake versions of themselves,” Neely said to CNBC.

Further fueling the debate, an investigation revealed that several major AI firms such as, Apple, Nvidia, Anthropic, and Salesforce, have used transcripts from over 173,000 YouTube videos to train AI models, despite platform policies.

These videos came from more than 48,000 channels, including top creators like MrBeast, PewDiePie, and Marques Brownlee, as well as academic and news institutions such as MIT, Khan Academy, NPR, and the BBC.

The lack of a clear opt-out option, or warning when an AI is scraping content, has prompted creators to demand better transparency and protection for AI training processes.

Image by Moses Malik Roldan, from Unsplash

U.S. Requires Foreign Students To Make Social Media Public For Visas

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The U.S. State Department now requires foreign students to disclose their social media content for visa applications.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• The U.S. now requires student visa applicants to make social media profiles public.
• Private accounts may be seen as hiding anti-American sentiment.
• New policy applies to F, M, and J visa applicants.

The U.S. State Department announced that consular officers will examine social media content to detect anti-American sentiments, while treating private and hidden accounts as possible attempts to “evade or hide certain activity,” as reported by the Wall Street Journal .

“The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country,” a senior State Department official told the WSJ. Applications for F, M, and J visas, which include academic and cultural exchange programs, can now resume under these new standards.

The department suspended visa interviews to create new screening procedures that included broader social media evaluation, as noted by the WSJ. The application process now requires applicants to set their profiles to public visibility.

The WSJ reports that the Trump administration has established this new policy as part of its broader initiative to tighten student visa regulations. The government has recently targeted Pro-Palestinian student demonstrations, while threatening visa revocation for students linked to the Chinese Communist Party, as well as those studying sensitive subjects.

The WSJ reports of a case last month where the Department of Homeland Security attempted to suspend Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, claiming the school failed to ensure campus safety for Jewish students. The department alleged that many “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” were foreign nationals. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked that suspension.

However, the new policy may raise legitimate concerns around infringement on privacy rights, and may have a chilling effect on academic freedom by compelling students to disclose details about their personal online behavior.

The policy guidance requires staff members to evaluate applicants’ social media profiles for evidence of anti-American value positions or national security threats. While the stated intent is to safeguard national interests, the criteria are broad and open to interpretation, as noted by the Washington Post .

As Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, noted, it remains unclear how narrowly or broadly these guidelines will be enforced. “I don’t think any American would want to be judged by their worst tweet,” he said to The Post, warning that a wide-reaching interpretation could unfairly bar students who otherwise merit a visa.

NPR further noted that over one million international students in the U.S. contribute $40 billion yearly, but new Trump-era policies are driving interest down sharply. Colleges relying on their tuition and cultural presence may face serious challenges.

Still, the administration maintains that the rules are needed for national security. Visa applicants who fail to comply may face delays or denials in their approval process.