LinkedIn is now using everyone's content to train their AI tool

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

LinkedIn has begun using users’ posts and personal data to train its AI features, auto-enrolling many accounts and offering only an opt-out setting, which some regions like the EU don’t even see due to stricter privacy laws. Commenters debate whether this is an inevitable use of data given LinkedIn’s role in hiring versus a breach of consent and trust, especially when terms are silently expanded after the fact. Many also question the value of training models on what they see as low-quality, often already AI-generated “influencer” content, and worry about a future of job hunting dominated by bots on both the employer and applicant sides.

Scope of the New AI Setting

  • LinkedIn is using user-generated content and “personal data” to train its AI tools.
  • A new preference controls this; many users found it turned ON by default, including some paying/premium users.
  • Some note this likely only affects future data; anything already ingested won’t be removed from existing models.

Regional Differences & GDPR

  • Multiple EU/EEA users report not seeing the AI-training setting at all; others see it but say it 404s.
  • A LinkedIn help page excerpt (cited in the thread) claims models are not currently trained on content from EU/EEA/Swiss members.
  • UK users generally do see the setting, often enabled by default, despite having data protection laws.
  • Posters debate whether this is due to GDPR’s strength or LinkedIn’s fear of its enforcement.

Ethical, Legal, and Consent Concerns

  • Many object to auto-enrollment and retroactive repurposing of data, saying nobody originally consented to AI training.
  • Debate on whether ToS changes and silent opt-ins constitute informed consent; some argue they are effectively coercive.
  • Several point out that if users are required to use LinkedIn for employment opportunities, regulators should restrict such data use.
  • Others take a fatalistic view: any data given to platforms will be used for ads and AI unless strong regulation intervenes.

Perceptions of LinkedIn Content & AI Quality

  • Widespread mockery of LinkedIn feed content as shallow, self-promotional, and already “AI-sounding.”
  • Some predict the model will be “cringe,” full of humblebrags and inspirational trauma stories.
  • Others highlight a real market for resume/cover-letter helpers and job-search copilots, seeing business value.

Impact on Jobs, Hiring, and the Platform

  • Concerns that AI will flood hiring with low-effort applications and automated recruiter responses, worsening signal-to-noise.
  • Some argue this accelerates “bullshit jobs” and automated “influencing,” making professional life more performative.
  • A minority defend LinkedIn as a useful place for professional discussion, learning, and actual contract/job leads.

User Responses & Mitigations

  • Many share direct opt-out URLs (with mixed success by region).
  • Some advocate simply deleting LinkedIn accounts as the only reliable opt-out.