Poisoning AI Models: Staying Anonymous in an AI World

AI model poisoning is the deliberate alteration of data or content to mislead machine-learning systems. The goal is to make the AI learn that an image or a text is different from how it's actually perceived.

Example: A fashion company adds invisible pixel changes to its product photos. To the human eye, the image remains unchanged, but an AI that uses these images for training will learn false relationships.

Advantage: The works can still be published without being successfully "stolen" by AI generators.

Companies that leave their content unprotected online face significant risks:

The more an industry relies on exclusivity or trust, the higher the damage will be if data remains unprotected.

Nightshade: The pioneering tool

Nightshade, developed at the University of Chicago, is currently one of the best-known tools for protecting image content from AI training. It manipulates images minimally so that AI models receive false data. For example, a shoe is recognized by the AI as a dog.

• Function: Nightshade minimally alters images so that AI models receive false data.
• Example: A shoe is recognized as a dog by the AI.
• Benefit: Artists and fashion companies can thus prevent the unauthorized use of their designs.

Glaze: Protective layer for artists

A related project is Glaze, which distorts images in such a way that the artistic style can no longer be correctly imitated by AI models. Glaze is also a research project at the University of Chicago.

Technological alternatives beyond Nightshade

In addition to Nightshade and Glaze, there are other tools and standards that are of interest to companies:

• Text-based data poisoning frameworks: Research projects at universities are developing methods to alter texts in such a way that AI learns false connections.
• Steganography: Invisible watermarks or markers in images/texts that are recognized by AI but not noticed by humans.
• C2PA initiative: A consortium of Adobe, Microsoft, and Nikon is working on standards that make the origin and authenticity of content verifiable. C2PA certification (“content credentials”) works similarly to a nutrition label for digital content.

These technologies are not yet widespread, but they show that content provenance is becoming an important trend for the future.

Which industries are particularly affected?

AI poisoning is not purely an art or fashion issue. It affects anyone who works with creative or sensitive data:

• Fashion & lifestyle: Protection of unique designs and brand aesthetics
• Media & publishing: Texts, images, and journalistic content
• Pharmaceuticals & healthcare: Research data, clinical studies, patents
• Industry & technology: CAD files, technical drawings, construction plans

Any company that differentiates itself through innovation or exclusivity should consider protective measures.

1. Technical solutions:

• Poisoning tools such as Nightshade or Glaze
• Watermarks and invisible markers that make it difficult for AI to use content
• Adversarial examples, i.e., deliberately manipulated data that confuses AI models

2. Legal protection:

• Use of copyright notices and terms of use
• Review of current legislative initiatives to regulate AI (e.g., AI Act in the EU)
• Contracts with platforms that host your content

3. Organizational measures:

• Training of employees in the use of AI tools
• Development of an AI compliance policy within the company
• Continuous monitoring of where your content is being used

Regulatory developments

The legal situation is currently changing rapidly:

• EU AI Act: The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive law regulating AI. Among other things, it establishes transparency requirements for training data and prohibits AI applications with “unacceptable risk,” such as social scoring. Companies offering AI systems in the EU must comply with the new rules.
• Copyright lawsuits: Artists, photo databases, and media companies are suing AI companies for unauthorized use. The prominent case of Getty Images vs. Stability AI shows that the industry is taking legal action against the unlicensed scraping of copyrighted images.
• GDPR reference: If personal data ends up in training data without consent, this can result in massive fines.

Companies should be vigilant not only technically but also legally and adapt their contracts accordingly.

Real-life examples

• Getty Images sued Stability AI because its training data included millions of images from the platform without a license. This case highlights the significance of legal action in the fight for intellectual property.
• Fashion companies are already using AI poisoning to keep designs exclusive. This not only secures their market value but also their reputation.

To ensure you are not acting blindly, you can use this roadmap as a guide:

1. Analysis:
   1. What content is critical to your business?
   2. Where are your biggest risks?
2. Technical protective measures:
   1. Use tools such as Nightshade or watermarks
   2. Implement monitoring software for content use
3. Legal protection:
   1. Check copyright and terms of use
   2. Adjust contracts with platforms
4. Organizational measures:
   1. Awareness training for employees
   2. Develop an AI compliance policy
5. Continuous monitoring:
   1. Regularly check whether content is being misused
   2. Make adjustments to new technologies and laws

These steps are not a one-time project, but an ongoing process to stay safe in an AI world.

What is AI Model Poisoning? 
AI poisoning is the deliberate manipulation of content to feed AI systems with false data and prevent unwanted use.
Is AI Poisoning Legal? 
Yes, as long as you're protecting your own content. Using someone else's data could lead to legal issues.
Can Nightshade Also Protect Texts? 
The current focus is on images, but similar methods can be applied to text.
Do I Need These Tools as a Company? 
If you have sensitive data, creative works, or exclusive designs, their use is highly recommended.

The AI world brings opportunities, but also risks. Companies that want to protect their data and work must take action. Whether through Nightshade, Glaze, or legal frameworks, it's important that you maintain control over your content. By implementing the recommendations outlined here, you not only protect your intellectual property but also strengthen trust in your brand.