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With Figma’s latest AI announcement comes new worries about how the tool can use your creative work for AI training. We’ve got all the information you need, including how to opt out of content training.
Figma Introduces Figma AI
Figma holds an annual conference in San Francisco where the Figma team announces updates to the UX/UI software. On June 26th, 2024, theyannounced Figma AI.
Although some AI features were announced back in 2023, such asDiagram for Figma, June 2024’s announcement marks the debut of the first native AI Figma and, thus, brings forward some changes to AI usage within Figma’s admin settings.
Figma AI features include:
Many of these AI features will improve your workflow forcreating great presentations in Figmaordesigning master slides.
After the initial announcement, Figma placed its AI features in beta mode, which is being rolled out for free to all users over a short period. Once out of beta mode, we expect these features to only be available to Professional or Organization Figma members.
Will Figma Use Your Content to Train Its AI?
While new AI features in Figma are exciting, and you may boost your creative output by using some of them, it’s worrying that Figma may be using your designs to train its AI machines. There arealternatives to Figmaif you no longer wish to use it for this reason.
The announcement of Figma’s content training isn’t particularly hidden, but what it means and how it affects you as a user isn’t entirely obvious. There was similar confusion whenAdobe suggested it may use user content for AI training.
“To make these improvements, we need to train models that better understand design concepts and patterns, and Figma’s internal formats and structure through Figma content.”
Figma further states that all users are in control over their AI settings and organization, which gives some hope that it’s a trustworthy service. There are two management settings within Figma AI: toggling on or off AI features and toggling on or off content training.
You can choose not to allow your Figma account—whether it’s a personal or organization admin account—to utilize any AI features. This is a great option that isn’t often offered as a blanket choice.
How to Opt Out of Figma AI Content Training
Figma provides the option to opt out of the content training for Figma AI. Since it isn’t stated entirely what the content training does or how exactly it may use and access your work, it’s likely a good idea to opt out. Figma states that leaving the content training toggle on allows Figma to “use content within your team or organization to train AI features.”
The content training toggle is switched on by default, so if you don’t mind using your content for AI training, you don’t have to do anything. It can be toggled off or on at any time, although the toggled change only takes effect on content you create after the fact, and not before the change.
Figma won’t start its content training program until August 15th, 2024, so there are around six weeks between announcement and implementation to make an initial decision.
To opt out of Figma AI’s content training, from either the Figma app or its browser version, go to your account homepage. Find your team name—even if you don’t have a team account—and select it or the arrow next to it, then select the team account you wish to opt out of AI content training.
From your team’s homepage, again, select the arrow next to your team’s name on the main title, and chooseView Settings.
In the Settings window, scroll down toAIand selectManage AI Settings.
Here, you’ll find two toggles, one forAI Featuresand the other to opt out ofContent Training. They do not have to be toggled on or off as a pair; you can keep one on and another off at any preference.
Any user who has previously toggled off forFigma and FigJam AI featureswill have that choice honored by Figma with the new Figma AI change. You should continue to be automatically included in the updated AI settings. However, it’s a good idea to check your settings to confirm.
While Firma’s use of user content to train its AI models promises enhanced design capabilities, it’s crucial for users to have control over their data. If you prefer to prevent your content from being used, opting out is a straightforward process.
