InVideo CEO's Controversial Remarks on Training Data Raises Ethical Concerns in AI Community
In a recent episode of Ranveer Allahbadia's widely popular podcast, The Ranveer Show (TRS), Sanket Shah, CEO of InVideo, made a statement that has sent shockwaves through the AI ethics community. Watch here-
"The one who has all the data is winning. Today, I feel that this should also be the case in the world. In order to progress in life, you don't always need to ask for permission. You can just apologize later,"
Shah’s comment has raised serious concerns about the approach to data usage in AI development.
As an AI-focused news channel, ABCP feels compelled to address the implications of such a mindset, especially when applied to generative AI. This statement is particularly alarming given InVideo's rapid growth and increasing influence in the content creation space.
InVideo, a text-to-video-generating GenAI platform, has been making waves in the industry since its inception in 2017. The startup has seen explosive growth, with CEO Shah claiming they expect to close FY24 with $30 million in annual revenues. This comes after a period of plateauing in 2021 and 2022. The platform is now attracting an impressive 60,000 daily sign-ups, driven by its free 10-minute video creation offering. This remarkable traction underscores the potential impact of InVideo's practices on a vast user base.
The controversy surrounding Shah's comments is amplified by the platform on which they were made. The Ranveer Show, hosted by Ranveer Allahbadia, is one of India's most popular podcasts, with a massive following across various social media platforms. Allahbadia's YouTube channel, BeerBiceps, boasts over 8.76 million subscribers and has amassed over 2.2 billion views. The channel's reach and influence, particularly among young audiences, make it a powerful platform for shaping opinions on tech and entrepreneurship. This incident highlights the responsibility that comes with such influence and the need for careful vetting of the messages promoted.
Given this context, Shah's cavalier attitude towards data usage is deeply troubling for several reasons:
1. Privacy and Consent: The approach seems to disregard the importance of obtaining proper consent from individuals whose data may be used in AI training.
2. Potential for Bias: Without transparency about training data sources, it becomes nearly impossible to assess whether the data is representative and ethically sourced.
3. Intellectual Property Concerns: The "take first, apologize later" mentality could easily lead to copyright infringement if copyrighted content is used for training without proper permissions.
4. Regulatory Compliance: With data protection regulations like GDPR becoming increasingly stringent, such an approach could lead to serious legal consequences.
5. Lack of Accountability: Without insight into the training process and data sources, it becomes exceedingly difficult to hold AI companies accountable for their systems' outputs and decisions.
6. Erosion of Trust: Transparency is key to building and maintaining public trust in AI technologies. Opacity around training data and development processes can quickly erode this trust.
The "ask forgiveness, not permission" approach advocated by Shah is not only ethically questionable but also legally risky. It undermines the principles of responsible AI development that the tech industry has been striving to establish.
As a platform dedicated to promoting ethical AI practices, ABCP urges leaders like Sanket Shah to prioritize ethical data practices, implement robust data governance policies, and strive for transparency in AI development. We call on InVideo to disclose all the training datasets used in their models, as a step towards building AI systems that respect privacy, promote fairness, and adhere to legal and ethical standards.
Furthermore, we respectfully ask Ranveer Allahbadia, as an influential voice in the tech space, to be more cautious about the messages promoted on his platform. Influencers have a responsibility to promote responsible AI practices and to challenge statements that could lead to unethical behavior in the industry.
The AI community must come together to promote ethical AI development, especially in rapidly growing startups like InVideo. We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this issue. How can we better ensure that the rapid advancement of AI technology doesn't come at the cost of ethical considerations?
This incident serves as a reminder that as we push the boundaries of what's possible with AI, we must remain vigilant about the ethical implications of our actions. The future of AI depends not just on technological innovation, but on our ability to develop these powerful tools responsibly and ethically.
Watch full video here-