Figma can use your content to train AI: How to prevent it?

With Figma's latest AI announcement come worries about how the tool could use users' creative work to train AI.

The following article has all the information you need, including how to opt out of content training.

Figma introduces Figma AI

Figma holds its annual conference in San Francisco, where the Figma team announces updates to its UX/UI software. On June 26, 2024, Figma AI was announced.

While some AI features were announced in 2023, such as Diagram for Figma, the June 2024 announcement marks the launch of the first original Figma AI and, as such, introduces several changes. Changes to AI usage in Figma admin settings.

Figma AI features include:

Automatically rename layers
Create designs from text prompts
AI-enhanced asset search
Remove background
Language Translation
Create AI prototypes

Many of these AI features will improve the workflow for creating great presentations in Figma or designing master slides.

Following the initial announcement, Figma has placed its AI features in beta mode, which will be rolled out to all users for free for a short period of time. Once beta mode is out, expect these features to only be available to Professional or Organization Figma members.

Does Figma use your content to train AI?

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While the new AI features in Figma are exciting and you can boost your creativity using some of them, the worry is that Figma might be using your designs to train your AI. There are alternatives to Figma if you don't want to use it anymore for this reason.

Figma's content training announcement doesn't hide information, but its meaning and how it affects users isn't entirely clear. There was similar confusion when Adobe suggested that it could use user content to train AI.

"To make these improvements, we need to train models to better understand Figma's design concepts and patterns as well as its internal formats and structures through Figma content."

Figma further claims that all users have control over their AI settings and organization, which gives some hope that this is a trustworthy service. There are two management settings in Figma AI: Enable/disable AI features and enable/disable training content.

You can choose not to allow your Figma account - whether it is a personal or organizational administrator account - to use any AI features. This is a great option that is not usually offered as an option.

How to opt out of Figma AI content training

Figma provides the option to opt out of content training for Figma AI. As it does not specify exactly what the training entails or how specifically your work can be used and accessed, it is recommended to opt out. Figma claims that enabling the content training button allows Figma to 'use content within your team or organization to train AI features' .

The content training option is enabled by default, so if you don't mind using your content to train the AI, you don't need to do anything. This feature can be turned off or on at any time.

Figma won't start its content training program until August 15, 2024, so between announcement and launch, users will have about 6 weeks to make a decision.

To opt out of Figma AI's content training program, from the Figma app or its browser version, visit your account home page. Find the group name - even if you don't have a group account - and select it or the arrow next to it, then select the group account that wants to opt out of AI content training.

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From the group's home page, select the arrow next to the group name on the main header and select View Settings .

In the Settings window, scroll down to AI and select Manage AI Settings .

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Here, there will be two toggle buttons, one for AI Features and the other to opt out of Content Training . They don't need to be on or off together; You can turn this on and turn off that depending on your preference.

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While Firma's use of user content to train AI models promises to enhance design capabilities, it's important that users have control over their data. If you want to prevent others from using your content, opting out is a simple process.