Generative AI takes art pieces, pictures, or writings found on publicly available platforms and combines them with other inputs taken from the internet to create an “original” piece of content. The AI finds this content through a process called web scraping.

”Web scraping is essentially downloading all the content of public websites, including social media sites and public databases” (Information Technology Services). Sometimes the right to content is sold directly to AI companies.

Creators on platforms like TikTok automatically own the copyright to any video posted, with the exception that TikTok has the legal right to use the content. TikTok then sells this right to generative AI companies who use the content to teach their AI. 

How do you feel about the use of generative AI?

Flinn, Louise. “AI, data privacy and you.” Information Technology Services, 25 January 2024, https://its.unc.edu/2024/01/25/ai-data-privacy-and-you/. Accessed 15 January 2026.