Anker offered Eufy camera owners $2 per video for AI training

TechCrunch
TechCrunch
2M ago
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Eufy, a security camera maker, incentivizes users with $2 per video to train its AI for theft detection, raising privacy concerns.
Anker offered Eufy camera owners $2 per video for AI training
A What happened
Eufy, a prominent manufacturer of security cameras, recently initiated a campaign where users could earn $2 for submitting videos of thefts, both real and staged, to help train its AI systems. The company aimed to collect 20,000 videos each of package thefts and car door incidents. Users could upload their videos via a Google Form and provide their PayPal details for payment. Despite the initiative's potential benefits in enhancing AI detection capabilities, it has sparked concerns over privacy and security, especially in light of Eufy's previous issues with data protection. The company has since launched a Video Donation Program, offering users various rewards for contributing videos, but doubts about its commitment to safeguarding user data persist.

Key insights

  • 1

    User Incentives: Eufy offers monetary rewards to users for video submissions.

  • 2

    Privacy Concerns: The initiative raises significant privacy and security issues.

  • 3

    Data Collection: Eufy aims to gather a large dataset for AI training.

Takeaways

Eufy's campaign highlights the tension between user incentives and privacy risks in AI development.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity