Relevant snippet:
We’re now adding the option to allow the collection of detailed code‑related data pertaining to IDE activity, such as edit history, terminal usage, and your interactions with AI features. This may include code snippets, prompt text, and AI responses.
Comment:
So if I accidentally Cmd+V a slightly-sensitive string into my IDE, I now have to consider that string compromised? Even if I’m just doing some local testing? If I paste someone’s name in, that’s potentially me causing a data breach? What?
It’s opt-in for paid users. They are only monetizing free users, by default (opt-out, for them).
Even some free users aren’t affected. EAP and community editions are treated the same as the paid versions. It’s only the noncommercial licenses of the paid tools that are affected by this. Those users also can’t disable the (admittedly less invasive) anonymous data collection feature, either - at least they can disable this one.
I don’t know if “monetizing” is the right term, though… are they selling this data? I had assumed it was intended solely for improving their own tooling. (Obviously that has a monetary value, too, but using that term if it’s only to make their own tools better feels inaccurate)
There is a profit motive behind everything tied to AI.
free ultimate users (those who get ultimate for free, e.g. students, educators), free users using community editions can also opt-in
For now I guess. For both tiers.
Oh thats much less bad but still bad.
That’s not even less bad, that’s totally reasonable. If you use free shit that isn’t open source, they are going to monetize you somehow.
If you like a product and don’t want them to use your data to make money, then pay for it.
This is beyond monetizing, this is IP theft. They are only getting away with it because capitalism.
I mean, would IP even exist in a non capitalist system?
Good point, but the gist is that our system is fucked up because corporations get to steal work to make profits off it. This is more like copyright. And yes, protecting creative work to a certain degree while not overreaching is really tricky.